Rugby World Cup: England vs. Samoa – Steve Borthwick Fine-Tunes the Ideal Lineup

England’s clash with Samoa on Saturday holds a unique significance as Manu Tuilagi, the England centre, faces the country of his birth for the very first time. The Rugby World Cup Pool D showdown is set to take place at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Saturday, October 7th, with a kickoff time of 16:45 BST. For those unable to attend, the game will be covered extensively with commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, along with live text updates on the Sport News Center website and app.

In the words of Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua, “It’s a crucial game, there’s a lot on the line.” But at first glance, it might not seem that way. England has already secured their spot in the quarter-finals as the winners of Pool D, while Samoa, barring a near-miraculous turn of events, will be heading home.

In other parts of the tournament, especially in Paris, where Ireland takes on Scotland, the permutations for advancing to the knockout stages resemble a complex spreadsheet. Numbers will be crunched in real-time. However, in Lille, the scenario is quite straightforward. This match is essentially a “doornail-dead rubber” when it comes to the knockout stages.

But let’s not forget that there’s more to this match than just the last eight. For England, the primary focus is on the 15 players who will take the field. Coach Steve Borthwick, who had to navigate suspensions to captain Owen Farrell and flanker Tom Curry earlier in the tournament, can now field what appears to be his first-choice starting lineup.

One of the key combinations to watch is the 10-12 axis of George Ford and Farrell, which has been reunited after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. This duo is expected to carry the weight of England’s hopes in this tournament. Additionally, Joe Marchant and Jonny May’s prowess in kick-chasing has earned them the nod over Henry Arundell’s explosive speed on the wing. In the back row, Ben Earl’s boundless energy has earned him a start over Billy Vunipola, and Dan Cole’s scrummaging expertise has placed him ahead of Kyle Sinckler as the starting tighthead prop.

This lineup is designed to fit a specific template and follow a well-established trend. The statistics speak for themselves. England has been the most prolific kicking team in the tournament, averaging over 42 kicks per game, with the best success rate in recovering possession from those kicks. They have dominated territory, spending more time in the opposition half than any other team except for world number one side Ireland. Their defense has been rock-solid, conceding just one try in three games, albeit against some less formidable opponents.

Borthwick’s coaching success in the past has been built on similar principles. Leicester’s style of play wasn’t always the flashiest, but it delivered results and trophies. It seems that Borthwick is banking on this group of 15 players to follow a similar path. This match marks their first appearance together, and it’s their only opportunity to gel before the high-pressure knockout rounds.

As a side note, Owen Farrell is on the verge of achieving a significant milestone of his own. Starting the match just one point short of Jonny Wilkinson’s total of 1179, this could be the game where he becomes England’s all-time leading Test points scorer.

For Samoa, the focus in their pre-match media conference was more on words and camaraderie than on numbers. Players made lighthearted bets on slipping certain phrases into their answers. Second-row Samuel Slade even compared his team’s adaptability to a Pokémon, which drew some amused reactions.

However, coach Mapusua had a more serious point to make. He highlighted the disparity in preparation between Samoa and England. While Samoa played only 15 matches between the two World Cups, often against lower-tier or invitational sides, England played 40 matches, primarily against top-tier opponents. Mapusua expressed a desire for more Test matches between World Cups to help his team improve.

As England and Samoa prepare to face off once again in the World Cup, the gap between them remains substantial. Mapusua’s strategy is for his team to embrace their Samoan identity fully and not leave any “what if” questions behind. England, on the other hand, aims to weather Samoa’s challenge and continue building momentum as they eye the possibility of going all the way in the tournament.

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More about Rugby World Cup Clash

• Rugby World Cup Official Website: For official updates and information about the tournament.
• BBC Sport Rugby: For live commentary and coverage of the England vs. Samoa match and other rugby news.
• England Rugby Official Website: For insights into England’s lineup and team updates.
• Samoa Rugby Union: For updates and news related to the Samoa rugby team.
• ESPN Rugby: For in-depth analysis and coverage of rugby events worldwide.