The England team has been named for the Rugby World Cup match against the Vodafone Flying Fijians.
FBC Sports Editor, Indra Singh reports from London as there are some exciting points to note about the hosts.
“The naming of the England team this morning has drawn mixed reactions from the pundits, but coach Stuart Lancaster is sure he has got the mix right.Just four of the 22-man matchday squad from England’s last RWC match – the 19-12 quarter-final defeat by France in 2011 – are involved now in 2015.Ben Youngs at scrumhalf and Dan Cole at tighthead prop both maintain their positions in the starting XV, and are joined by Courtney Lawes, who was on the bench in 2011.Richard Wigglesworth is on the replacements bench again.Youngs will make his 50th appearance for England, the fourth scrum-half to do so after: Matt Dawson (77), Kyran Bracken (51) and Danny Care (52).Youngs will also appear in the same England team as older brother Tom Youngs, and they will become the second pair of brothers to play for England in a Rugby World Cup, after Rory and Tony Underwood.Rory and Tony Underwood played together in four matches at RWC 1995.Mako and Billy Vunipola were both named on the England bench and could also join the party, becoming the third pair if they both get on to the field.
Interesting stats there.Meanwhile, Fiji’s other World Cup pool opponents, Wales has lost yet another player to injury.Wing Eli Walker, who was a late call up for injured fullback Leigh Halfpenny, has succumbed to a hamstring injury.”
The Flying Fijians take on England at 7am this Saturday.
You can watch the entire tournament live on FBC TV.
