England’s 31-man Rugby World Cup squad will comprise 17 forwards and 14 backs. Up front there is space for five props, three hookers, four locks and five back-rows. Behind the scrum there will be three scrum-halves, two fly-halves, four centres and five back-three players …
Definites
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jack Nowell (Exeter), Jonny May (Gloucester), Anthony Watson (Bath), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Forwards
Jamie George (Saracens), Rob Webber (Bath), Tom Youngs (Leicester), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Dan Cole (Leicester), David Wilson (Bath), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs), James Haskell (Wasps), Tom Wood (Northampton), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Split decisions
Sam Burgess (Bath) or Luther Burrell (Northampton)
Two Yorkshiremen born only nine miles and 12 months apart. Both have played rugby league and taken a circuitous route to this career crossroads. Burgess offers leadership ability and defensive X-factor while Burrell has far more union experience and has never let his country downBurrell was once rejected by Lancaster for a place in Leeds’ academy and could experience further disappointment.
Nick Easter (Harlequins) or Ben Morgan (Gloucester)
Almost every time Easter has taken to the field off the bench he has made a difference, most recently in France last week. He brings set-piece guile and versatility, having represented England in three positions. Morgan has played only 40 minutes of competitive rugby since a nasty leg break in January. Is he sufficiently back up to speed?
George Kruis (Saracens) or Dave Attwood (Bath)
Defensively Attwood is a rock and he adds scrummaging value, too. Kruis, who could have qualified to play for Canada via his father, is not quite as massive but showed up well during the Six Nations when both Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes were injured. It is a mighty tight call; England’s recent set-piece wobbles could yet offer Attwood a lifeline
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle) or Alex Corbisiero (Northampton)
Another fitness-related headache for Lancaster. If the coach could guarantee Corbisiero will stay in one piece for the duration of the tournament there would be a place for the 2013 series-winning Lions prop. His lack of consistent game-time, however, has opened the door for the improving Brookes, who switched from Newcastle to Franklin’s Gardens this summer
Left out
Danny Cipriani (Sale), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Calum Clark (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Tom Croft (Leicester), Lee Dickson (Northampton), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath), Joe Simpson (Wasps), Ben Foden (Northampton), Chris Pennell (Worcester)
