REVISED: England v Wales teams: RUCK picks combined line-up for Six Nations clash
Rugby NewsFriday, 09 February 2018 at 15:25
Eddie Jones has made two changes while Warren Gatland has named an unchanged starting line-up but what would a composite XV look like if every fit player in the respective squads was considered for selection?
We've had to change our initial picks due to Leigh Halfpenny being ruled out through injury.
First of all, what's your prediction for the game...
Fullback: Anthony Watson
Some have suggested Watson is the form player in the whole of Europe right now. He was one of the first names on the teamsheet here, but moves to fullback to cover the injured Halfpenny.
Winger: Steff Evans (Wales)
Dubbed by many as the next Shane Williams, the speedster replaces Halfpenny but is on his natural wing with Watson swapping to 15.
Centre: Scott Williams (Wales)
Williams excelled in his wider role for Wales, contributing significantly in both attack and defence and making the decision-making defensive duties of an outside centre look easy.
Centre: Owen Farrell (England)
Farrell is simply world class and must be the pick here.
Winger: Jack Nowell (England)
Only appeared as a replacement last weekend, but for us the Exeter wide man is world-class.
Fly-half: George Ford (England)
The edge goes to Ford ahead of Rhys Patchell, because of his added experience at this level, but it’s a close one and both are capable of proving to be game-winners for their sides.
Scrum-half: Gareth Davies (Wales)
Care can be an asset off the substitutes’ bench but he is yet to prove himself as a Test starter. Meanwhile, Davies, who broke English hearts at the last Work Cup, has scored more tries than any other scrum-half at Test level with 10 since the beginning of 2016.
Prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
There’s not much to choose between Vunipola and Rob Evans with both being skilled, mobile and powerful. Vunipola was a Lions Test starter, meaning the Saracens man edges into our XV.
Hooker Jamie George (England)
He can't get into the England starting XV but he is on our team. He's better than Dylan Hartley and kept Kevin Owens out of the British & Irish Lions Test team.
Prop: Dan Cole (England)
Scarlet tighthead Samson Lee has shown his best form in years at the scrum. But Cole, twice a Lion, is vastly experienced and is one of England’s main men. Eddie Jones has tipped the No.3 to become the best tighthead in Europe.
Lock: Maro Itoje (England)
Who do you pick as your two second-rows with four of them being Lions Test players and Launchbury a proven operator for England? Itoje has to be in, no argument about it.
Lock: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Jones' leadership along with Itoje's lineout prowess and athleticism would proved to be a magnificent combination for the Lions.
Flanker: Aaron Shingler (Wales)
Lawes and Itoje are locks who can figure at No.6 while Chris Robshaw is happy at blindside or openside. Athlete Shingler, on the other hand, is a specialist and is in majestic form, earning the man of the match award in their thrashing of Scotland last weekend.
Flanker: Justin Tipuric (Wales)
He may not be in the Wales team right now but it's hard to argue that their is a better 7 on his day than Tipuric.
Number 8: Sam Simmonds (England)
Nathan Hughes and Ross Moriarty have both had injury lay-offs, while Simmonds has burst onto the international scene with aplomb, scoring a brace on his Six Nations debut against Italy last weekend. On current form, he has to make the team.
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