Dallaglio and Monye pick their England XV for the Autumn Nations Series
Rugby NewsMonday, 31 October 2022 at 13:16
England legends Lawrence Dallaglio and Ugo Monye have selected their England XV for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.
Dallaglio and Monye's combined England XV to face Argentina
BACK-THREE:
- 15 Freddie Steward
- 14 Cadan Murley
- 11 Max Malins
Freddie Steward of England goes over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK
Monye said: "I think Max Malins has been brilliant this season. I think he’s a ball playing left left, a winger that finishes really well.
"Gone for Cadan Murley on the right wing. I think when you think about the opening two matches, if he’s going to get a chance, he’s going to have to go against Japan and Argentina. I want to see if he can make. And Freddie Steward, I personally think he’s the best fallback in world rugby, so he is my 15."
DID YOU KNOW?
- Whilst at school Malins was also a promising cricketer and field hockey player, representing the school 1st XI at both sports from the age of 15 and top scoring in the 2014 Cape Town international Hockey Festival
CENTRES:
- 13 Manu Tuilagi
- 12 Owen Farrell
Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Monye said: "I’ve gone for a centre partnership of Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi. I’d like to see that cemented and just see how that beds in and opens up opportunity."
DID YOU KNOW?
- Born in Fogapoa, Samoa, Tuilagi has five elder brothers who all played international rugby for Samoa
- Farrell celebrates every point he scores by linking his index fingers together to make a 'JJ' sign, the Joining Jack salute, Joining Jack being a charity dedicated to the needs of sufferers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
HALFBACKS:
- 10 Marcus Smith
- 9 Ben Youngs
Marcus Smith of England scores a penalty during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK
Monye said: “I started Ben Youngs at No9, who miss out on the summer, Danny Care took that spot. I think having that level of experience and connectivity with someone like Marcus Smith, getting the ball in his hands really early."
DID YOU KNOW?
- He moved to the United Kingdom at the age of thirteen from Asia and subsequently received a sports scholarship to attend Brighton College, where he captained the school's 1st XV
- In 2022, Youngs became England men’s most capped player with 115 appearance
FRONT-ROW:
- 1 Ellis Genge
- 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
- 3 Kyle Sinckler
Ellis Genge of England (digitally altered) during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Dallaglio said: "We’re looking at this pack with a lot of injuries. No Courtney Lawes, so that asks the question who’s going to captain the side? He’s been captain for a while. Maybe Ellis Genge? He’s got some good leadership qualities there. He’s definitely an England captain of the future, he’s the outstanding loosehead and has picked up really left off last season. Fingers crossed for Luke Cowan-Dickie, otherwise McGuigan or Singleton, not a huge amount of experience.
“Kyle Sinckler, taken a little bit of time to get going, not been playing well initially. But I think the benefit of the doubt, there’s not a huge amount. So that’s where I like continuity in selection."
DID YOU KNOW?
- According to Genge, he was first introduced to the front row by former England youth coach Bobby Walsh originally to have as an additional option but this eventually resulted in a permanent career change
- Cowan-Dickie has previously been dual-registered with both the Cornish Pirates and Plymouth Albion to aid his player development
- Sinckler, who preferred football, states that it was his mother, Donna, who instigated his rugby career.
SECOND-ROW:
- 4 Maro Itoje
- 5 Jonny Hill
Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Dallaglio said: “I think the second row picks itself without Courtney Lawes. "
DID YOU KNOW?
- As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
- Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin
BACK-ROW:
- 6 Jack Willis
- 7 Tom Curry
- 8 Billy Vunipola
Tom Curry of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Italy at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on January 13 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
Dallaglio said: "I think you’ve got really good experience there. Jack Willis, no current club at the moment, but that’s no bad thing. We know that I think a jackler over the ball is very, very important.
"Tom Curry, I still think is the best No7 in the country. And Alex Dombrandt obviously came back yesterday and I think he will play a part in the autumn series but maybe not in this first game. Sam Simmonds, has not played enough rugby.
"I think he’s been struggling withan injury. So I think the full pack, because of injuries, kind of picks itself, really.”"
DID YOU KNOW?
- Willis played junior rugby for Reading Abbey R.F.C. before joining the Wasps Senior Academy in 2015
- Curry is the nephew of former England hooker John Olver
- Born in Australia to Tongan parents, Vunipola qualified for England through residency
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