Rugby World Cup news LIVE: France name team as New Zealand worry over injuries plus latest England updates

Topsy Ojo has backed under-pressure England head coach Steve Borthwick to show his facet’s poor type round on the World Cup in France.

England have gained simply two of their 9 fixtures in 2023 and can look to ignite their World Cup bid of their essential opening Pool D fixture in opposition to Argentina on Saturday.

Former London Irish and England participant Ojo acknowledged Borthwick’s facet haven’t gained sufficient video games of late however insists they’ve the instruments to create an upturn in type.

Argentina’s scrum might lack of the efficiency of previous however Dan Cole insists it stays a big menace to England’s aim of creating a triumphant begin to their World Cup.

Two sides who take pleasure of their ahead dominance collide in Pool D’s highest-profile fixture in Marseille on Saturday, with the winners putting one foot into the quarter-finals.

Argentina’s final nice scrum was 2015 when feared props Marcos Ayerza and Ramiro Herrera helped them attain the World Cup semi-finals, however extra strings have now been added to the Pumas’ bow.

However tighthead prop Cole insists that along with his Leicester-mate Julian Montoya current of their entrance row at hooker, they’re nonetheless a formidable set-piece unit.

Jonathan Humphreys desires the Wales forwards to be remembered for accuracy and a relentless strategy on the Rugby World Cup.

The Wales pack can anticipate an instantaneous take a look at of its functionality in opposition to opening Pool C opponents Fiji in Bordeaux on Sunday.

Whereas Fiji are famend for gamers with dazzling abilities, their set-piece sport has improved significantly below head coach Simon Raiwalui.

Georgia’s revered ahead energy awaits Wales of their last group sport, with Australia additionally prone to pose loads of questions throughout what will probably be a fiercely-contested pool.

Kevin Sinfield has little doubt that Tom Curry will make an on the spot affect upon his return to the matchday squad in opposition to Argentina as England hope to place their defensive frailties behind them.

“We simply miss Tom Curry the participant,” mentioned Sinfield. “He speaks very effectively, he tidies plenty of issues up, he’s an unimaginable athlete and he does issues plenty of different gamers can’t do.

“Being a defence coach, individuals again dwelling would possibly see various things than I do, the nitty gritty stuff that’s actually necessary, that pulls groups collectively, Tom does each single day, in lots of, many alternative actions.

“Simply to have him obtainable, what it does and why we’ve seen a bit raise in depth this week could be round competitors for locations. You all of a sudden throw Tom again on the market and he’s within the combine and there are a few again rows wanting over their shoulder and understanding they have to boost their sport.

“All through my expertise of being a participant the most effective groups I used to be concerned in, was when there have been some great names getting unnoticed of a staff. It exhibits the energy of your squad and having Tom obtainable means there’s a good high quality participant who’s going to be unnoticed.

“We’ve simply obtained to get higher throughout the board. I gained’t disguise or draw back from that. We have to be higher throughout the board in our defence. We missed too many tackles final outing and that’s one thing we’ve obtained to rectify. I’m firmly in there with the gamers. I’m accountable, I’m accountable.”

France will deploy as much as 7,000 safety personnel throughout the nation as a part of measures to make sure security through the Rugby World Cup, sports activities minister Amelie Oudea Castera mentioned on Monday.

The World Cup begins with a much-awaited conflict between France and New Zealand at Stade de France on Friday, however the scenario across the venue will probably be closely monitored effectively earlier than the 9 p.m. kick-off.

“It is going to be an excellent second of sport, this Rugby World Cup is about to be distinctive as France organises it alone for the primary time,” Oudea Castera informed a press convention.

Between 5,500 and seven,000 safety personnel could be mobilised, added Oudea Castera, who additionally promised easy journey circumstances for visiting followers at airports and prepare stations.

“We’ve got recruited 600 brokers in airports to make it simpler to go although customs and likewise strengthened the employees within the prepare stations,” she added.

England captain, Owen Farrell says he “made a mistake” with the harmful sort out on Taine Basham that led to a purple card in opposition to Wales final month and admitted he’s gutted to be banned for the beginning of the Rugby World Cup.

Farrell will miss England’s event opener in opposition to Argentina on Saturday in addition to their second match in opposition to Japan eight days later, having additionally been absent for the warm-up matches in opposition to Eire and Fiji.

“I made a mistake and I obtained banned for it ultimately,” mentioned Farrell. “I’m not going to sit down right here and moan about it now, I’m excited for this World Cup to begin, I’m excited to see what this staff can do and I stay up for being obtainable once more.

“I knew when it got here on the massive display screen. It’s what it’s. I’ve been banned, I settle for that I’ve been banned. I’m gutted to not be enjoying however I’m attempting to do every part I can for this staff.”

Regardless of England’s rocky build-up to the event Farrell insists every part can click on into gear on the proper in time.

“I’ve large confidence within the group,” he mentioned on Monday, “I do know what the group is able to. I do know it’s one thing that may flip fairly rapidly.”

The 2023 Rugby World Cup will see a revamped foul play course of in place, with the introduction of the “TMO bunker” system on the event for the primary time.

The introduction follows quite a few World Rugby trials through the course of the final 12 months, together with the Summer time Nations Sequence and Rugby Championship.

The “bunker” system is designed to enhance accuracy of resolution making and keep away from important disruptions to the circulate of video games, and has already been utilised in a few excessive profile moments forward of the World Cup.

Again-rower Tom Curry is about to go straight into England’s beginning XV for his or her opening Rugby World Cup match in opposition to Argentina greater than three months after his final outing.

Curry has but to characteristic below head coach Steve Borthwick after lacking the Six Nations with successive hamstring strains earlier than struggling an ankle damage firstly of England’s collection of World Cup warm-up matches.

Defence coach Kevin Sinfield says England have been given a clear invoice of well being heading into Saturday’s sport in opposition to Argentina in Marseille and the return of Curry will act as an enormous enhance to their probabilities.

They’ve shipped 30 tries in 9 video games below Borthwick and the final match, a primary ever defeat by Fiji, noticed England miss 27 tackles.

When requested what was flawed in defence, Sinfield referenced Curry’s absence saying: “I feel it actually helps having Tom Curry again obtainable,

“He’s obtained quite a few caps below his belt now and he’s been doing it for years. He can play quite a few positions throughout the again row for us too. Delighted he’s obtainable.”

Fabien Galthie has needed to defend the collection of lock Bastien Chalureau after heavy criticism associated to Chalureau’s 2020 conviction for a racially motivated assault.

The second row was referred to as up final week after Paul Willemse’s damage, and has denied the incident had something to do with race, however politicians in France have steered that Galthie was flawed to select him.

“We’ve got mentioned the identical factor now for 4 years and we feature this mission with coronary heart and dedication: we’ve to unite and share with French rugby and all French individuals,” the French head coach mentioned.

“For 4 years, racism has had no place in our staff, it has no place in rugby. Integrity is a basic worth of our staff and our sport. Bastien has knowledgeable us of this affair and firmly and formally denies the allegations.”

France lock Bastien Chalureau has denied accusations he’s racist throughout an emotional press convention following his controversial call-up for the Rugby World Cup.

The 31-year-old Montpellier participant is interesting in opposition to a suspended six-month jail sentence for a racially-motivated assault in 2020.

Chalureau, who has six Check caps, was added to Les Bleus’ 33-man squad by head coach Fabien Galthie following the damage withdrawal of Paul Willemse.