D-Day for hopefuls in RWC warm-ups

EXCITEMENT will be mixed with concern as four of Europe’s leading rugby nations begin their World Cup warmup program this weekend.

Ireland were to host Italy in Dublin early today (NT time), with England facing Wales at Twickenham a day later.

While some players can be reasonably certain of being on the plane to Japan, for others the next few weeks represent a last chance to impress.

Not that England have that long with their Australian coach Eddie Jones — brought in after the team’s first-round exit on home soil at the 2015 edition — naming his World Cup squad tomorrow.

But John Mitchell, England’s assistant coach, said on Friday: “I don’t see it as a one chance.

“Every day in our environment is selection and observation; it doesn’t just come down to one game. Every day we are looking at what they do, how they do it, how they adapt, how they cope with pressure, how they relax, how they connect.”

Nevertheless Mitchell, head coach of his native New Zealand when they reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup in Australia won by England, was well aware of what was at stake.

“You are making big decisions on young men’s careers,” he said.

“They all want to go to a World Cup. Having been in those shoes before, I can fully empathise with the feelings and emotions that he (Jones) goes through. But it is the head coach’s responsibility.”

England have picked an experimental side, leaving out several first-choice players and giving debuts to Bath wing Ruaridh McConnochie and Gloucester scrum-half Willi Heinz.

Ireland, meanwhile have selected a South African-born lock in Jean Kleyn.