England v France: Should Eddie Jones rotate his squad for Pool C decider?
Ever since the Rugby World Cup draw was made, England’s final pool game against France has been billed as the decisive fixture in the tournament’s so-called group of death.
It will, as widely anticipated, decide who tops the pool, but with both sides having already guaranteed qualification to the knockout phase following wins over Argentina, USA and Tonga, there is now a question as to how much emphasis should be placed on this match.
The winner will set themselves up with a challenging quarter-final against Australia before a likely encounter with New Zealand in the semi-finals, while the runners-up look set to face the similarly daunting prospect of Wales and then South Africa.
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For both France and England, the possibility of facing a familiar Wales side while avoiding the All Blacks may be the preferable route to the final, although whoever lifts the Webb Ellis Cup will almost definitely have to go through Steve Hansen’s men at some point.
Eddie Jones will undoubtedly select a side capable of winning Le Crunch but, with qualification secured, a two-point advantage on France and no favourable route to the final, the game presents an opportunity to rotate the squad.
Billy’s boot
Mainstay of the side Billy Vunipola twisted his ankle in last weekend’s win against Argentina and has been seen wearing a protective boot in what the camp insist is a “precautionary” measure.
Having started 12 successive Test matches, it may be time to hand the No8 an overdue rest, despite Jones’s determination thus far to play him in every game.
Jack Nowell and Owen Farrell also missed training on Tuesday but are both in contention for the weekend. The latter has twice suffered blows to the head in the opening three games and the risk of injury to key men such as the captain and Vunipola, in what is no longer a must-win game, will surely be considered by Jones and his staff when they pick the team.
“We are being overly cautious, and if there is any risk that Billy is not going to be 100 per cent we will rest him,” said attack coach Scott Wisemantel. “At this stage all 31 players are available and we will make a call late Wednesday, early Thursday, but if there is any doubt we will rest him.”
Stick or twist
Tom Curry deputised well for Vunipola in the second half against the Pumas and could continue in the role, while Mark Wilson, who adapted to the position impressively in the autumn internationals a year ago, could also get the nod.
Courtney Lawes or Joe Launchbury, who have a start apiece so far, could come into the second row, while Mako Vunipola, who returned from injury last week, would benefit from a run-out ahead of the knockout phase.
England’s depth in the backs is also well-documented, and the likes of Jonathan Joseph, Joe Cokanasiga and Henry Slade could all slot in with ease while maintaining the team’s threat out wide.
Jones must decide, too, whether vice-captain and talisman George Ford gets the nod at fly-half again or if he needs wrapping in cotton wool. The No10 has been involved in more tries than anyone at the tournament so far, scoring two and directly assisting four.
History dictates that it is important for England to win this game given no World Cup winner has lost on their way to lifting the trophy, but with bigger games on the horizon, Jones must weigh up the importance of that precedent with the practicalities of keeping his best players fit.
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“You get momentum from winning and we want to win all the games,” said scrum coach Neal Hatley. “England are playing France, I can’t imagine anyone not taking that full out, 100mph seriously. We want to top the pool.”
Having beaten a pair of Tier Two nations and Argentina, ranked 10th in the world, France provide England with the next stepping stone ahead of even bigger hurdles, assuming this weekend’s match goes ahead with the imminent Typhoon Hagibis set to tear through Yokohama and Tokyo.
The order of fixtures, with the incremental increases in difficulty, could not have suited England any better and, whether they meet Australia or Wales in the next round, beating France would give Jones’s side the ideal platform to continue building toward their ultimate goal.