BACK-THREE WORLD CUP CONTENDERS

THE arrival of Joe Cokanasiga has complicated the back-three selection equation for the World Cup squad. Here, CHRIS FOY assesses the options...

CHRIS ASHTON

Injuries have hampered his second coming. Highly rated by Jones as a finisher and can track the play and sense when openings will appear, but needs more game time.

MIKE BROWN

Prospects are fading. His status as a specialist full-back is no longer a trump card. Unlikely

to make the cut.

JOE COKANASIGA

Exploded into contention on Saturday. Physical presence gives him a point of difference and he seems destined to go to Japan.

ELLIOT DALY

Jones knows he can be a match-winner on the wing, too, and he has long-range goal-kicking in his repertoire, so is a World Cup cert.

JONNY MAY

Providing he is fit, his inclusion is not in question. Try-scoring has elevated him into the upper echelon of world-class performers in his position.

JACK NOWELL

Another disrupted by injuries. Valued as a tenacious competitor with back-row forward attributes. Could be him v Ashton for one place.

OLLIE THORLEY

The Gloucester wing has been in scorching form but is running out of time to make a World Cup case. Long-term prospect.

ANTHONY WATSON

The Bath flyer hasn’t played for a year, so he has lost ground on rivals. But he has credit in the bank as a Test Lion and can play at full-back or out wide, so will go to the World Cup. PREDICTED SELECTIONS: Cokanasiga, Daly, May, Nowell and Watson.