England v Uruguay: Five talking points ahead of England's final World Cup game
Last Updated: 10/10/15 8:55pm
We look at five talking points ahead of England's final match of the 2015 World Cup against Uruguay in Manchester.
Midfield shuffle continues
Criticism of Stuart Lancaster's plentiful midfield partnerships has not swayed the England boss as he makes yet another change in the centres for the Uruguay game.
Henry Slade has not featured in the role of inside centre, a position he fills for Exeter, and instead he will play at outside centre, with Owen Farrell slotting in at 12. It's a decision that baffled Dewi Morris in his Sky Sports column.
"Henry Slade has been brought into the side at 13," said Morris, "But why isn't he playing 12 with Jonathan Joseph?
"Owen Farrell is a solid player but lacks the attacking edge that is required to unlock defences that are improving with each year that rugby is professional."
George Ford has been brought back into the side at fly-half, but if Lancaster was in a position to try out a young, exciting partnership, he has not taken it, opting instead for the pragmatic Farrell at second receiver.
Though the decision is unlikely to backfire, it will also do very little to placate those who have criticised Lancaster's lack of imagination in the midfield, as well as those who have criticised the lack of continuity in selection.
Ormaechea cleared to play
Scrum-half Agustin Ormaechea has been cleared to play against England on Saturday, four days after being sent off in Uruguay's 47-15 defeat to Fiji.
Ormaechea was one of the South Americans' best players in that match, but received a second yellow card late in the second half for playing an opponent without the ball and thereby earned himself a red card - the first of the tournament.
The first yellow card was for a no-arms tackle on the wing that led to a penalty try.
Judicial officer Roger Morris of Wales decided no further sanction was necessary, and cleared Ormaechea to face the English in Manchester.
The half-back is integral to Uruguay's hopes if they are to resist the dominance of their opponents.
Robshaw's leadership
Has there been a worse week than this for Chris Robshaw or any England captain?
The Harlequins flanker has had to endure a series of press conferences in a week where he'd rather have been in the shadows. To his credit, he and Lancaster have faced the press and answered questions with grace.
Centre Jonathan Joseph this week voiced his backing of the England captain.
"Robbo has been a great leader in the past four years," said Joseph. "Again, he's someone that you can go and talk to, on and off the pitch.
"He's up there to be skipper and continue that role. A lot of people don't see what he does around the park and his work-rate."
Robshaw's effect on the team, his impact as a leader, will arguably be tested more than ever this week. Before the Australia game, the common thought was that it was England's biggest game since the 2007 World Cup final, while this game against Uruguay the complete opposite.
Robshaw's leadership will be tested in a different way as he tries to energise his troops for a dead rubber in a home World Cup.
World Cup history
The last and only time these sides met was in Brisbane during the 2003 World Cup. England came out on top 111-13 winners in a 17-try mauling.
The win included five tries from Josh Lewsey, but there were other try-scorers of interest on the day.
Mike Catt scored twice for England, and tighthead prop Pablo Lemoine crossed for Uruguay. The two face off in the coaches box this weekend, as Catt takes his place next to Lancaster while Lemoine is in charge of Uruguay.
Lemoine's try was not matched by a Uruguay player in any World Cup until Tuesday's encounter against Fiji, in which Ormaechea and Carlos Arboleya crossed for the South Americans.
Youthful opportunity
At 30 years old, David Wilson is far from a young player in the team, but is a player that Lancaster could potentially have been able to call on for the game against Uruguay. Instead, the coach has included Dan Cole in a side peppered with experience for a game without consequence.
George Kruis occupies the bench while Geoff Parling and Joe Launchbury get a run in another baffling call from the coaching staff - not because Kruis is the superior player, but because his inclusion in the squad could have warranted a run in this game - particularly as there is no quarter-final to prepare for.
Despite this, Lancaster is confident he has picked a youthful side for the encounter.
"It's very important that we put a positive, attacking display together and I think the team will reflect that," said Lancaster.
"There's a tremendous group of players coming through and some of our most talented players are some of our youngest players."
Jamie George is another young player who would have benefited from some minutes on the pitch for his country.
Though he may yet feature from the bench, a starting place for the Saracens hooker would have given him some vital playing time in order for the coaches to explore their options at hooker ahead of the Six Nations.
England: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 George Ford, 9 Danny Care; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Tom Youngs, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Geoff Parling, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Nick Easter.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Joe Marler, 18 David Wilson, 19 George Kruis, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Mike Brown.
Uruguay: 15 Gaston Mieres, 14 Santiago Gibernau, 13 Joaquin Prada, 12 Andres Vilaseca, 11 Rodrigo Silva, 10 Felipe Berchesi, 9 Agustín Ormaechea; 1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Carlos Arboleya, 3 Mario Sagario, 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c), 5 Jorge Zerbino, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara, 7 Matias Beer, 8 Alejandro Nieto.
Replacements: 16 Nicolas Klappenbach, 17 Oscar Duran, 18 Alejo Corral, 19 Mathias Palomeque, 20 Diego Magnol 21 Agustín Alonso, 22 Alejo Durán, 23 Manuel Blengio.
