Rugby World Cup
England unveil team for Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji
Tom Hamilton
September 14, 2015
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Stuart Lancaster has unveiled England's starting team for their Rugby World Cup opener against Fiji on Friday.

The team shows just one change from the side that knocked over Ireland in their final warm-up match with Rob Webber replacing Jamie George on the bench. The news means Sam Burgess features in the 23-man squad and will get his chance against Fiji if given the nod from the replacements.

Joe Marler, Tom Youngs and Dan Cole form England's front-row with Geoff Parling and Joe Launchbury partnered in the locks. Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw and Ben Morgan link up in the back-row with Ben Youngs partnering George Ford at half-back.

Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph are named as the starting inside and outside centres respectively with Anthony Watson, Jonny May and Mike Brown forming the back three.

The squad features five players who turned out in the 2011 World Cup: Cole, Lawes, Wood, Richard Wigglesworth and Ben Youngs.

England:

Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw (captain), Ben Morgan

Replacements: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, Billy Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth, Owen Farrell, Sam Burgess

Play ESPNfootytips Rugby World Cup Tipping

ESPN is proud to announce an exclusive 1-hour special - Cheika's Wallabies: Hope of a Nation - with a repeat broadcast on ESPN Thu Sept 17 at 9pm AEST (9pm NZ). ESPNscrum's leading rugby expert Greg Growden goes one-on-one with the Wallabies coach in this exclusive special that gives a rare insight into the intriguing personality of Australia's head coach.

© Tom Hamilton

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