HOW THE MUSCLE MEN LINE UP . . .
DISH OF THE DAY
Henry Slade, 26 Vital statistics: 6ft 3in and 15 st. Position: centre.
PLAYS exactly the way he looks ( right) — silky. Great reader of the game. The pin-up of the squad: ‘This guy is seriously handsome with a good tan, a great rig [physique] and perfect hair,’ says one teammate admiringly.
PSST: he not only drives a Porsche but is the only england player to be sponsored by the German car-maker, too.
SUPER MARO
Maro Itoje (left in main picture above), 24 Vital statistics: 6ft 5in, 18.7 st. Position: Lock.
RAMPAGING with ball in hand, he’s a destructive tackler. Born in Camden, London, to nigerian parents. educated at harrow thanks to a sports scholarship and has a politics degree from London’s School of Oriental & African Studies. his nickname is Pearl — because he is so precious to every team he plays for. As a child, boxing not rugby was his passion and Muhammad Ali his idol. has appeared on the cover of Tatler, along with royal pin-up Lady Amelia Windsor.
PSST: Likes writing poetry.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Owen Farrell (below right), 28 Vital statistics: 6ft 1in, 14 st. Position: Fly-half.
RUGBY royalty. his father Andy, former rugby league and union player for england, will take over as coach of ireland after the World Cup. Many england teammates were at his wedding last year. PSST: Grew up in the same street as fellow england player George Ford. Ford used to do his French homework for him.
MAN MOUNTAIN
Billy Vunipola, 26 Vital statistics: 6ft 2in, 20 st. Position: Number 8.
HARD-AS-NAILS runner who it takes three men to stop. The Old harrovian’s brother Mako is an england teammate and his father and uncles all played internationally. PSST: Once wrapped a curry in a pizza and ate the whole thing like a sandwich.
TATTOOED FLYER
Manu Tuilagi, 28 Vital statistics: 6ft, 17.2 st. Position: Centre.
INJURIES and indiscipline have blighted his career. Was a member of england’s 2011 World Cup squad only to enrage authorities by jumping off a ferry into Auckland harbour. he says a witch doctor in Samoa, where he was born, helped calm him down. PSST: Coffee-loving Manu is the latte art champion of the team.
AUSTRALIA’S GAY RIGHTS GIANT
David Pocock (right in main picture), 31 Vital Statistics: 6ft 2in, 18 st. Position: Flanker.
The human wrecking ball of the Aussie team has more to him than meets the eye. Away from the pitch he is a climate change campaigner and advocate for gay marriage. Refused to marry longterm partner emma Palandri until same- sex marriage was legalised.