Pack looks strong but concerned by midfield options

ENGLAND’S first choice pack – Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry and one from Sam Underhill/ Mark Wilson/Courtney Lawes is good enough to do well in Japan although replacements are doubtful – prop and No.8 in particular.

However, the backs are a different matter with only Owen Farrell and Jonny May definites. Would Willi Heinz or Ben Youngs make the starting XV at Exeter, Saracens, Northampton, Harlequins or Sale? I doubt it.

Joe Cokanasiga may score tries against Tonga but would be a liability in a close game versus NZ or S Africa. Ruaridh Macconnochie is still an unknown quantity but it is the centres that most concern me with Henry Slade (injured), Jonathan Joseph (recently injured), Manu Tuilagi (an injury waiting to happen) and Piers Francis (would be in Saracens third team). We are only a couple of injuries away from fielding a backline completely from Leicester and Bath.

Leicester have six players in the squad (highest number with Saracens), Bath five – compared with Exeter (last season’s runaway leaders) bizarrely only three. This despite Bathsneaking into sixth place by virtue of a big pack eking out penalties and Tigers narrowly avoiding relegation.

The final should be a minimum requirement for England, anything less a failure – but coach Eddie Jones with his ridiculous selections has made this seem increasingly unlikely.