Joe Root at hooker? England cricket team give Steve Borthwick food for thought naming an alternative cricket XV ahead of Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Japan
- England’s cricket team have named an alternative rugby side to play vs Japan
- Steve Borthwick’s England play their second Rugby World Cup match on Sunday
- And England’s cricketers believe Joe Root should be starting at Hooker
- Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results
England’s cricket team have given Steve Borthwick some food for thought ahead of his side’s upcoming Rugby World Cup match against Japan.
The cricketers, who defeated New Zealand by 181 runs at the Oval on Wednesday, delivered the rugby coach an alternative starting XV for Sunday’s crunch match, naming Joe Root as hooker with Ben Stokes going in at blindside flanker.
It comes after Borthwick’s side got their Rugby World Cup campaign off to a winning start against Argentina on Saturday, with George Ford dazzling to put England second in Pool D, a point behind Sunday’s opponents Japan.
Jos Buttler’s side were also victorious at the weekend, claiming a 79-run victory over New Zealand in the second of their four-match ODI series and backed that up with a second victory today to go 2-1 up in the series.
Stokes was the star of the show once again, hitting a record 182 runs off 124 balls to help his side clinch the impressive victory, but fans watching Sky Sports’ coverage of the match noticed something interesting in the England dressing room.
England’s cricket team have named their alternative starting XV for England’s Rugby World Cup match against Japan on Sunday
Steve Borthwick (pictured) was given some food for thought by the cricketers, with the England head coach set to name his first 15 for their second World Cup group stage game on Friday
The team was revealed on Wednesday night as Ben Stokes (pictured) hit a record breaking 182 to help England defeat New Zealand and go 2-1 in their four-match ODI series
With Borthwick set to name his team to take on Japan this Friday, the cameras honed in on a whiteboard peering through the windows of the pavilion at the Oval which featured the alternative starting XV to play against the Brave Blossoms.
In the front row, Joe Root is sandwiched at hooker between coach Wayne Bentley and the team’s physio Craig de Weymarn.
Buttler’s side chose to pick Reece Topley, who towers at over 6ft 5in, and Andrew Flintoff as their second row partnership, with the former England all-rounder joining up with the team’s coaching set-up earlier this week.
Stokes, who’s father Ged played and coached rugby league professionally, comes in as the blind side flanker alongside fast bowler Gus Atkinson at open side flanker and strength and conditioning coach Andy Mitchell at No 8.
Their compatriots out in France have also enjoyed some success this week, defeating Argentina to get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start
Jos Buttler’s (left) side are preparing to head out to India for the 2023 Cricket World Cup where they will open their campaign against New Zealand on October 5
Sam Curran comes in at scrum half and is partnered at fly-half by wicketkeeper batsman Jonny Bairstow, who according to the Metro, played at outside-half in his youth and in fact once considered quitting cricket to play rugby.
In midfield, Bairstow is flanked by a centre pairing of David Willey and Brydon Carse, while Chris Woakes and Jason Roy occupy the wings.
At full-back, the captain Jos Buttler sits back and surveys the field, with Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Dawid Malan and coach Marcus Trescothick all named on the bench.
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