England name team for World Cup opener

England have named their team for the World Cup opener against Fiji on Friday. Only one change to the match day squad has been made from the 23 that defeated Ireland in Twickenham on September 5, with Rob Webber replacing Jamie George as reserve hooker.

Scrumhalf Ben Youngs will win his 50th test cap as the hosts look to get their tournament off to a good start. Geoff Parling and Courtney Lawes continue as second row partners with Joe Launchbury confined to the bench, and Ben Morgan gets the nod over Billy Vunipola at the back of the scrum. Sam Burgess looks set to start his World Cup account as an impact replacement.

England have played Fiji on five previous occasions, first in 1988, having won all five. Their last meeting was a 54-12 thrashing at Twickenham in 2012, from which 12 members of the England team are returning. Fiji have yet to name their side but have nine players left from the 23 that took part that day, all of whom are expected to play on Friday in some capacity.

ENGLAND
1 Joe Marler 2 Tom Youngs 3 Dan Cole 4 Courtney Lawes 5 Geoff Parling 6 Tom Wood 7 Chris Robshaw (capt.) 8 Ben Morgan 9 Ben Youngs 10 George Ford 11 Jonny May 12 Brad Barritt 13 Jonathan Joseph 14 Anthony Watson 15 Mike Brown

16 Rob Webber 17 Mako Vunipola 18 Kieran Brookes 19 Joe Launchbury 20 Billy Vunipola 21 Richard Wigglesworth 22 Owen Farrell 23 Sam Burgess