SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Underused Henry Arundell will give England an X-factor against minnows Chile … it’s a chance for Steve Borthwick’s side to breathe some fire and impetus into their World Cup

• Chile clash is the ideal setting for England to unleash underused Harry Arundell
• Both Arundell and Max Malins add a much-needed X-factor to this England team
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

England’s clash with minnows Chile on Saturday is a chance for Steve Borthwick’s side to breathe some fire and impetus into their World Cup.

Borthwick will be very happy to have two wins from two. That’s all that matters at rugby’s highest level. England have got the job done so far. Their match against Argentina was a 10 out of 10 performance and said much about the real quality of the team.

They will beat Chile. England would have had too much for the South Americans regardless of the side selected, but they now have a huge opportunity.

I’ve talked about the importance of the national side getting supporters off their feet and the prospect of Marcus Smith and Henry Arundell in the back three should do just that.

It’s a massive chance for Arundell who has been ridiculously underused so far.

England should unleash the underused Harry Arundell when they play Chile on Saturday 

Coach Steve Borthwick will be very happy to have two wins from two from the games so far 

Owen Farrell is back from his ban and it’s no surprise he comes straight back in as captain

After his impressive start in Australia, he has been limited by injury and a lack of opportunity. His former club London Irish falling victim to English rugby’s financial crisis wouldn’t have helped either. And when Arundell did get a chance in the summer warm-ups, he barely got the ball.

Smith isn’t going to play full back in England’s big games at this World Cup. He can thrive and cause destruction in that position this weekend, but Freddie Steward will be back at No 15 when it really matters.

I think it’s different for Arundell though. If he plays really well against Chile, I can see him forcing his way into the side for the Samoa game and then what should be a quarter-final. The same applies to Max Malins.

The two wing positions are the ones I’ll be watching most intently. For me, both Arundell and Malins add a much-needed X-factor to this England team.A back three of Steward, Arundell and Malins really does make me sit up.

Owen Farrell is back from his ban and it’s no surprise he comes straight back in as captain. Farrell needs minutes after his suspension.

I hope he goes well on his return and nothing silly happens like another card!

I fully expect Farrell to have a good game. He’s the sort of player who can slot back in very quickly and Chile — with all due respect — are the ideal opposition for him.

England should beat Samoa too and look favourites to win Pool D. If you had offered Borthwick that last month, he’d have snapped your hand off.

Saturday’s meeting between Ireland and South Africa would be a fitting World Cup final

Fabien Galthie’s hosts were my favourites to win the tournament before the finals started 

England may well end up facing Fiji — who beat them at Twickenham in August — in the last eight. What a fixture that would be!

England’s game is far from the biggest on what is going to be a brilliant weekend.

Ireland against South Africa is the No 1 clash on tomorrow with Wales and Australia on Sunday not far behind.

If Wales beat Eddie Jones’s side, the Wallabies will almost certainly be out and Warren Gatland’s men will top Pool C.

These are amazing games to be taking place so early in the tournament but the truth is Ireland and South Africa would be a fitting World Cup final.

One team is going to lose and then likely face France in the quarter-finals. I’m sure there will be some people in either the Ireland or South Africa camps who will be questioning the wisdom and the merit of the draw this weekend.

Fabien Galthie’s hosts were my favourites to win the tournament but the injury suffered by Antoine Dupont changes things dramatically. It will still take a very good team to beat France, but with Dupont now likely to be missing until at least the semi-finals, Les Bleus have had the heartbeat of their side ripped out.

It will be fascinating to see how they respond. Dupont’s injury is not only a massive blow for France, but this World Cup as a whole. The tournament has lost its most iconic figure.

The injury sustained by France star Antoine Dupont is a massive blow for the tournament

EddieJones knows his Australia team must beat Wales or face exiting the World Cup

The pressure on the likes of Andy Farrell, Jacques Nienaber, Gatland and Jones is going to be off-the-scale huge this weekend.

It will be colossal and potentially career-changing. But you coach at the highest level for games like these. Deep down, I envy them all and wish I was still involved.

Jones especially has been copping it from all angles and will be really feeling the heat. It’s beyond coincidence the Wallabies are suffering so many injuries in training. I would love to know what is going on in their sessions.

A lot of Australians will be questioning the wisdom of getting rid of Dave Rennie and replacing him with Jones, who struggled with England after the no-show at the 2019 World Cup final.

For me, he has never really recovered from that night in Japan. I still have a soft spot for Jones as I loved going head-to-head with him. It was great fun and he was a great sport.

But I do not recognise the Jones of today and just hope he somehow gets his mojo back for his and his country’s sakes.

Jones will know his team must beat Wales or face a virtually certain exit. You never say never in rugby, but I think it would be a shock if Wales didn’t win.

Source: Read Full Article