England have picked the team that will start against Fiji, says Dewi Morris
Saturday 5 September 2015 07:32, UK
Sky Sports' Dewi Morris believes Stuart Lancaster's side for the Ireland clash is the same as the one that will open the World Cup against Fiji.
Lancaster has picked his team for the final warm-up game and the feeling among the rugby public is that the side closely resembles Lancaster's preferred starting XV.
Brad Barritt has been selected in the midfield alongside Jonathan Joseph, while Ben Morgan has been given crucial game time ahead of the World Cup as he continues his return from long-term injury.
Morris is in agreement that the side that will run onto the pitch on Saturday is the same that will take to the Twickenham pitch against Fiji in England's first World Cup encounter.
"I think he has picked the side because I don't think he will do much changing now until that first opening game," said the former England scrum-half.
Billy Vunipola is a one-man wrecking ball. Against someone like Fiji, when it breaks up you need someone to concentrate the mind and concentrate your forwards and that is him carrying the ball forward.
"Barritt has to play against Ireland and he has to start against Fiji because defensively he has never let England down in that role and you need that collective spirit in the midfield.
"Equally I think [Geoff] Parling will start again against Fiji because you have to fix the lineout. Against France, they were shambolic. You ain't got a lineout, you ain't getting out of the pool stages. Simple as."
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Though the British and Irish Lion felt the team picked reflected Lancaster's preferred choices, he said he would have made some changes if he was in charge.
"Would I have picked the same side? No, I wouldn't," said Morris.
"For me, the two changes I would make would be instead of Ben Youngs, I would have Danny Care.
"I reckon Danny Care deserves a start and against a team like Fiji, he could exploit those little nooks and crannies around the base that Aaron Smith does so well for New Zealand.
"And linking that I would put Billy Vunipola there instead of Ben Morgan."
Vunipola started last year's autumn internationals as the first-choice No 8 for England before a dip in form saw him replaced by Ben Morgan.
Morgan seemed set to lead the charge in the Six Nations earlier in the year before a broken leg suffered in January sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
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Though Morris says he would have selected Vunipola, he does agree that Morgan needs 80 minutes in order to get back to his best, but worries his return may have come too late.
"Give Ben Morgan a start against Ireland, get him some game time, he needs that. He was very good at the start of the Six Nations, unfortunately he broke his leg. Is it too close to take a leap of faith?
"Billy Vunipola is a one-man wrecking ball. Against someone like Fiji, when it breaks up you need someone to concentrate the mind and concentrate your forwards and that is him carrying the ball forward.
"And then Danny Care could possibly use his guile as he does with Harlequins so well to get round the fringes.
"He does seem to be third choice with England at the moment having not been given a start. I think he is up there as one of the best in the world."
Watch England v Ireland on Sky Sports 1 from 2pm on Saturday
