teve Borthwick retains a meticulous journal for every Rugby World Cup he attends, as both participant or coach. His diary for 2023 almost certainly already reads like a Stephen King novel.

Horror grasp King's famed fright fest ‘It’ revolves round a ghoul that takes the type of its goal's worst fears. Pennywise the Clown terrorised the goals of a technology of readers in the commonest iteration of that evil spirit.

For Borthwick, the incarnation of complete dread will certainly present itself as any extra accidents or suspensions.

England's head coach will not be a superstitious man, however even the last word pragmatist must look on the Red Rose squad's harm profile and despair. Anyone would suppose Borthwick had spent a day smashing up a room stuffed with mirrors.

How else to account for 1 / 4 of England's unique 33-man Rugby World Cup squad being unavailable for tomorrow's remaining warm-up Test.

Two of these eight are out of the World Cup fully, a 3rd will not be out of the harm woods but, two are suspended and three extra are nonetheless on the comeback path.

Anthony Watson was dominated out of the World Cup yesterday with a calf harm, whereas Elliot Daly has picked up a knee drawback. England are optimistic Daly will likely be slot in time for the World Cup, however there are nonetheless worries round him.

Tom Curry is not going to function in any respect within the 4 warm-up matches, because of an ankle harm; George Martin has a knee concern; whereas Henry Arundell has developed a "freak" again spasm.

Squad captain Owen Farrell is suspended and can miss each the World Cup opener in opposition to Argentina and the second pool-stage conflict with Japan. Billy Vunipola will likely be compelled to sit down out the Pumas conflict via suspension, too.

What a list of chills. Borthwick could be forgiven for watching tomorrow's remaining warm-up conflict with Fiji from behind the couch, and even below the quilt. He will certainly simply be determined to make it to France with none extra unhealthy news.

READ MORE

England will arrange their World Cup camp within the plush coastal environment of Le Touquet. That northern coastal city might shortly resemble The Shining on Sea if England's absentee listing swells to the purpose of inducing mania.

If you discover Borthwick repeatedly bashing out All Kicks and No Tries Makes Steve a Dull Boy at an vintage typewriter at England's staff resort in France, the marketing campaign actually may have hit the skids.

England desperately want a “Here's Johnny!” second this weekend in opposition to Fiji in any case.

Jack Nicholson improvised the well-known line from Stanley Kubrick's movie basic adaptation of King's The Shining.

How England would like to be on the level of with the ability to dispense with the script. The gameplan itself has but to spark into attacking life, so none of Borthwick's costs are about to begin straying off-piste.

Borthwick and his coaches have a litany of contingency plans and have already needed to delve deep into that stack.

Gloucester stalwart Jonny May missed out on the unique 33-man World Cup squad choice, however now the 33-year-old is within the field seat to interchange the luckless Watson in France.

Clubless Watson may have every part crossed his calf drawback doesn't find yourself long-term, too, as a result of the 29-year-old was solely granted a short-term RFU deal to cowl the World Cup.

That will keep in place regardless of his absence in France, however come November the previous Bath and Leicester star will want a brand new house.

That might very nicely show a return to Leicester for the second half of the Premiership marketing campaign, however a big absence might scupper that possibility. A transfer overseas is at all times open, however Watson desires to remain on house soil for each his household and his England ambitions.

Speed-king May stays certainly one of England's most diligent trainers and meticulous preparers.

The 72-cap flier is aware of precisely tips on how to end and will likely be determined to transform some probabilities tomorrow.

May will hope that England's newest brand-new centre pairing of Manu Tuilagi and Ollie Lawrence lives as much as its blockbuster billing.

Tuilagi and Lawrence would possibly simply be the dual wrecking balls to blast England's attacking sport huge open.

The two powerhouses should work out tips on how to act as foil in addition to bludgeon, although, to thrive as a real pairing. If they will dovetail in model, there's each probability of them linking up from the off in opposition to the Pumas in Marseille on September 9.