An England midfield of Owen Farrell,Sam Burgess and Brad Barritt will allow Wales to prepare for the expected and elevates defence over creativityBefore England’s most meaningful team announcement for at least four years it pays to remember one thing. The host nation simply cannot afford to lose to Wales at Twickenham this Saturday. Full discontinue. It is a non-negotiable position that renders style or gallant failure irrelevant. This is the weekend that will define their Rugby World Cup campaign.
Slip on that mental straitjacket and it becomes easier to understand the selectorial thinking of Stuart Lancaster, below, or his backs coach,Andy Farrell. Even before Jonathan Joseph was ruled out through injury they were tempted by the idea of Sam Burgess and Owen Farrell adding extra midfield muscle. Now that Joseph is out for a favorable chunk of the tournament with a pectoral muscle injury, the outlet for George Fords subtler passing game has diminished appreciably.
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Source: theguardian.com