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Farrell to 10, Tuilagi to 12 in England quarter-final rejig
Today at 1:20 PM Rugby World Cup
by Beth Newman in Japan
England have sprung a host of selection surprises for their quarter-final against the Wallabies, headlined by a major backline reshuffle.
Captain Owen Farrell will start at 10 for the English in the Oita clash Manu Tuilagi will start at inside centre, combining with Henry Slade in the midfield, while George Ford drops to the bench.
In the forwards, Mako Vunipola replaces Joe Marler at loosehead prop and Courtney Lawes replaces George Kruis
Ball-crashing no. 8 Billy Vunipola has been cleared to play after recovering from an ankle injury.
England coach Eddie Jones said the psychological side of the game would take over as the knockout stages kick off.
“Once you get to the quarter-finals it’s about having the right mindset," he said.
"We know how well we can play, it’s about us playing to our strengths and trying to take away from what Australia want.
“Australia are a clever team, they will have some specific attacking strategies to play against us so we need to have a great situational awareness. We need to defend with brutality and when we have the ball we need play on top of them.”
Winger Jonny May will play his 50th Test in the match and Jones said it was a well-deserved milestone.
“It is a great achievement and an honour for him and his family," he said.
"Everyone in the team is really pleased for him. I think this World Cup has really shown how hard he has worked at his game.
"He has come back from a significant knee injury to be close to the fastest winger, if not the fastest winger in the world, and has the ability to score tries from any situation.”
The Wallabies play England in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Saturday October 19, kicking off at 4:15pm local, 6;15p mAEDT, LIVE on Foxtel, Network Ten and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO, Rugby Xplorer and Amazon Alexa.
ENGLAND TEAM
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Tom Curry
7. Sam Underhill
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrell
11. Jonny May
12. Manu Tuilagi
13. Henry Slade
14. Anthony Watson
15. Elliot Daly
Reserves
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Joe Marler
18. Dan Cole
19. George Kruis
20. Lewis Ludlam
21. Willi Heinz
22. George Ford
23. Jonathan Joseph
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/1...ter-final-team