England v New Zealand: George Ford recalled for Rugby World Cup semi-final
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
Rugby World Cup semi-final: England v New Zealand |
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Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama Date: Saturday, 26 October Kick-off: 09:00 BST |
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, plus text updates on the BBC Sport website and app. |
England have recalled George Ford at fly-half for their World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, with captain Owen Farrell shifting to inside centre.
Coach Eddie Jones dropped Ford to the bench for the quarter-final win over Australia.
But for England's biggest game in 12 years he has reunited the 10-12 combination that saw England past Tonga, USA and Argentina in the group stages.
Henry Slade makes way in the backs with Manu Tuilagi moving to outside centre in his place, while winger Jonny May has been declared fit after an injury scare against the Wallabies last weekend.
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Jones said: "It's the two heavyweights of world rugby - one dressed in black, the crowd favourite, the nation's favourite, the other in white, probably the most disliked team in the world.
"We just feel that [Ford and Farrell] is the best combination for the start of the game.
"New Zealand play a certain way, and George's work-rate off the ball is going to be super-important for us.
"They bring a tactical awareness - when you play New Zealand you have to be practically very smart, and George and Owen together are probably at the forefront in that area in the world.
"New Zealand are a great team. They have an impressive winning record since the last World Cup.
"Like any good team, you have to take time and space away from them and you have to find areas you can pressure them - we believe we have identified a number of areas where we can do that."
Billy Vunipola wins his 50th cap in the back row as Jones keeps faith with his young flankers in Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, but utility back Jack Nowell has lost his fitness battle after a hamstring injury and once again misses out on a place in the match-day 23.
Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes stay together in the second row, with George Kruis among the replacements with back row Mark Wilson - in for Lewis Ludlam - and centre Jonathan Joseph.
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'We're the only people in Japan who believe we can win'
Jones has been in ebullient mood all week, the snappiness of a week ago replaced by an obvious enjoyment in talking up the pressure on his team's opponents.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "There's always nerves - you're only human - but there's that mixture between being nervous and excited which is the reason you coach.
"To be involved in a game like this is the most fantastic experience as a coach, and it's what you live for.
"Out of one hundred journalists in the room, as we saw, 97 think New Zealand are going to win.
"The three who put up their hands put them up timidly and hoped no-one saw them put up their hands.
"Our 31 players plus 20-odd staff believe we can win, and we're the only people in Japan who believe we can win. We'll take that situation and maximise it."
New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has sprung a surprise by dropping flanker Sam Cane to the bench and picking Scott Barrett - normally a lock - in the back row.
If that puts more pressure on the England line-out - a year after they lost five second-half line-outs in a 16-15 defeat by the All Blacks at Twickenham in which starred Barrett as a replacement - it may give Underhill and Curry the chance to attack the breakdown as effectively as they did against Australia.
Jones has described this as a clash that he foresaw as soon as the World Cup draw was made two and a half years ago.
It is the sort of battle that he was brought in at great expense to win, four years after England crashed out of the World Cup they were hosting before the knock-out stage.
Jones said: "Games against New Zealand are always won in the last 20 minutes, because it's always about being alive, it's always about work-rate.
"They're a team that is always in the game, so you've just got to be so disciplined in the way you play the game.
"The breakdown will be a paramount part of the game. They'll go hard in that area, so we have to be equipped to handle that. We have to be good in those transition areas."
England: Daly; Watson, Tuilagi, Farrell (capt), May; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Lawes, Curry, Underhill, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Marler, Cole, Kruis, Wilson, Heinz, Slade, Joseph.
Pick your England-New Zealand XV
Who makes the cut from Saturday's World Cup semi-finalists?
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Anyway, England progressing rather serenely, 2 games to go guys.
IF we somehow get past the AB's who would you wish to play in the final?
Up vote Wales.
Down vote SA.
I'm hoping for a northern hemisphere final so one for Wales from this England fan.
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22 minutes ago
Ford cannot defend and kicks the ball away far too much. New Zealand will just run it back again and again
Can't defend? that old chestnut. Optima stats have Ford at completing 53 out 55 tackles in 2019. Making him international rugby's top tackling fly half.
Lets hope its the same again!
As a Welshman I’m obviously hoping for wales to join them in the final, but will definitely need a big step up from last week.
May the best teams win
Thought Slade looked very rusty vs Australia and Ford looked cool as a cucumber in his game management when he came on.
fingers crossed, a big ask but good luck england.
To all english praising Jones we expect the usual sea change of view the second they lose ! You’ll all be calling for him to resign by tomorrow lunchtime !
That rather sums up your knowledge my scottish friend. Not sure anyone will be calling for Eddie Jones to resign 24 hours before the game.
Better luck next time.
As a Welsh fan I'd love to see a Wales v England final, what a spectacle that would be, plus I don't think we would beat New Zealand due to the mental baggage of 50+ years of hurt! Of course there is the small matter of SA to overcome first!!
Best of luck for Saturday.
"Wales would open up that England midfield"
Hadleigh Parkes couldn't open a can of beans. The least skilled centre to play international rugby since Shontayne Hape.
Have England really progressed so much in the last 8 months after an abject 6 nations? I'm not so sure.
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I guess so, Considering they are playing in the World Cup Semi Final this weekend.
But Eddie got the call right last week so why doubt him this week. NZ favourites but all to play for.