AFTER IT WAS widely reported yesterday, Danny Cipriani has missed out on selection for England’s Rugby World Cup squad.
Stuart Lancaster has opted for just two specialist out-halves, with Exeter Chiefs’ Henry Slade capable of covering.
Lancaster has also opted for rugby-league convert Sam Burgess over Luther Burrell, with a 17:14 split of forwards and backs.
Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola have been selected at loosehead with Dan Cole and Dave Wilson tighthead, while Northampton’s Kieran Brookes is capable of providing cover on either side.
Tom Youngs and Rob Webber are at hooker, and are joined by Jamie George, who made his debut against France on Saturday.
Four second rows will travel; George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes and Geoff Parling, while in the back row, Ben Morgan has beaten veteran Nick Easter to a place, James Haskell, Billy Vunipola, Tom Wood and captain Chris Robshaw completing the pack.
Farrell and Ford will be the two out-halves, with Cipriani missing out, despite impressing on his return to the international shirt this year, while Danny Care, Ben Youngs and Richard Wigglesworth at scrum-half.
Burgess is a controversial choice at centre over Luther Burrell, and he’s joined by Brad Barritt, Jonathan Joseph and Slade.
The back three is as expected though, with Mike Brown, Alex Goode, Jonny May, Jack Nowell and Anthony Watson providing exciting options for Stuart Lancaster.
England’s final warm-up game is against Ireland on Saturday September 5, before they open the tournament on Friday September 18 against Fiji at Twickenham.
Forwards: Kieran Brookes, Dan Cole, Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola, David Wilson, Jamie George, Rob Webber, Tom Youngs, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Geoff Parling, James Haskell, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw (c), Billy Vunipola, Tom Wood.
Backs: Danny Care, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Brad Barritt, San Burgess, Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade, Mike Brown, Alex Goode, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson.
