Star Players
Since the last world cup there has been a tremendous boost to the talented stocks of the English rugby football union. For the most part it has been due to a successful system of home grown talent. England's premier club rugby competition the Aviva Premiership is delivering stellar performance from 12 quality teams, and unlike the French or their football equivalents the tournament is made up of English players for the most part. Additionally the U-20 system has proved massively successful coming runner up in 2011 and then winning the tournament in 2013 and 2014. Many of the u-20 players have graduated to become stars in the Aviva. Although the future has a multitude of hopeful prospects it is the current squad that are in the picture at the moment. England have proven their stocks by being able to call upon a squad of over 40 capable players to New Zealand and not be able to worry about the possibilities of injuries in any areas. Quality forwards in the tight five such as Dane Cole, Alex Corbisiero, Joe Launchbury, and Courtney Lawes give England a presence at both the lineout and scrum where they could easily match or surpass any opponents they encounter in 2015. An experienced loose trio give the squad some knowledge to balance the exuberance of the youthful stocks; players such as Captain Chris Robshaw, and Tom Wood lead by example and set the pace for the entire team. Moving on to a young a backline that starts in the halves of Danny Care, and Owen Farrell, Care in particular has re -ignited his career and forms a formidable Combination with Farrell. In the outside backs is where weaknesses start to appear the squad is full of talent; although this is a double edged sword in the way nobody has really taken ownership of their position. Mike Brown has proven himself consistently; Marlande Yarde and Manu Tuilagi regularly have barnstorming runs although both can have average games as well. And as for Second Five Eighth and right wing there is yet to be any real preferences.
How They've Fared
Phto by Charles (fearless fred) flickr
The English are the only northern Hemisphere team to have won a world cup back in 2003 in Australia, and they are extremely proud of this fact. The team at that time was extremely talented and stuck to a tried and tested system. Since then they have come runners up in 2007 and were knocked out in the quarters in 2011, this decline being due to poor management of players. Since then new coaching staff have been instilled and are eager for higher honours. The difference between previous English teams and this current team come down to the team culture, as well as a wealth of talent coming out of the u-20 and Aviva tournaments. There is a real passion in the team now and it is reflecting in attendance statistics at all levels of the game. That is not to say they will find this tournament easy by any means. In their pool are 4 top quality teams and a side eager to impress. They will meet stiff competition in the pool stages from a Welsh team that is always spirited against England, as well as an Australian team eager to confirm their right to be in the top 3. However if they do make it through then they will be well prepared for the final stages.
Vs. Fiji 18/09 Twickenham
Vs. Wales 26/09 Twickenham
Vs. Australia 03/10 Twickenham
Vs. Uruguay 10/10 Manchester City Stadium
Joe Launchbury