- Eddie Jones makes wholesale changes to team
- George Ford captain; Henry Slade ruled out of 23
Billy Vunipola is one of five England players who will start their second match in five days on Thursday, with Eddie Jones also naming George Ford as captain to face the USA. Vunipola played all 80 minutes in the bonus point victory over Tonga but has been named to start in his 11th consecutive Test as England seek their second win of the World Cup.
As expected Jones has made wholesale changes, bringing in 10 new faces to the starting XV, but it is those who remain in the side who catch the eye. Vunipola, as well as Ford, Joe Marler, Tom Curry and Elliot Daly, also keep their places while Lewis Ludlam makes his first World Cup start at openside flanker, as reported by the Guardian on Tuesday.
Written by Gerard Meagher in Kobe
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/24/billy-vunipola-among-england-quintet-to-start-again-against-usa-rugby-world-cup under the title “Billy Vunipola among England quintet to keep places against USA”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.