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Aviva Premiership 2015: How many of England's RWC flops are playing this weekend?

15 of England's Rugby World Cup squad will be in action this weekend

Jack de Menezes

Friday 16 October 2015 15:34 BST

George Ford and Sam Burgess in action for Bath (Getty Images)

No fewer than 15 of England Rugby World Cup squad have been named for Aviva Premiership duty this weekend just a week after their early elimination from their home tournament.

Bath lead the way as England regulars Anthony Watson and George Ford are named in the starting XV to face Exeter Chiefs, while Rob Webber, David Wilson and Sam Burgess are named among the replacements. It’s worth noting that Burgess, the centre-experiment gone wrong for England, is named as back-row cover.

Exeter will be able to call on the talents of Henry Slade from the replacements’ bench, although Jack Nowell is rested along with new signing Geoff Parling.

Joe Marler and Mike Brown are named on the bench for Harlequins as they open the campaign tonight against Wasps, while Nick Easter is also available having been called up to the World Cup squad as an injury replacement for Billy Vunipola.

The No 8 remains absent for reigning champions Saracens, but both Alex Goode and Jamie George start for Sarris against Sale Sharks while Vunipola’s older brother Mako is on the bench alongside the lock George Kruis.

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Show all 15

1/15England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Alex Goode - 6

Solid under the high ball although he was not really tested by the opposing kickers. Had plenty of room to run but rarely exploited it, however, he made one clever break down the blindside which lead to Nowell’s second try.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Anthony Watson - 8

His acceleration and agility proved too much for Uruguay to handle. Ghosted past Uruguayan defenders with ease and was always first up in support when an English carrier made a break. Rewarded for his hard work and exuberance with two tries.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Henry Slade - 9

Stole the show as many expected him to do. Oozed class and confidence throughout and linked up really well with the backline. Showcased some swift footwork and slick passing and tormented the Uruguayan defence all evening. Took his try brilliantly and set up another.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Owen Farrell - 6

After making a promising break early on he was kept pretty quiet in the midfield and did not make much ground in attack. Kicked reasonably well off the tee.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Jack Nowell - 9

Looked threatening and lively throughout. Exploited acres of space with his searing pace, made more metres (122) than any other player with the ball in hand and finished every opportunity he was presented with to score a hat trick on his World Cup debut.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

George Ford - 8

Had plenty of time to operate against the lackluster line speed of the South Americans and used it to set his potent backline in motion. Engineered plenty of openings in the blue wall and put his runners through with ease. Set up Nowell's third with a beautiful floating pass but kicked very poorly all evening.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Danny Care - 8

Scampered around the fringes untouched and unhindered. Harrowed the Uruguayans throughout and provided Ford with swift service all evening. Set up Nowell's second try with a brilliant break and well-timed pass.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Mako Vunipola - 7

Worked hard in the loose and made a few effective trundles. Scrummaged well against amateur opposition held together England’s dominant rolling maul.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Tom Youngs - 6

Looked dynamic with the ball in hand early one, threw well at the lineout and solid at the set piece but was withdraw after half an hour with injury and replaced by Jamie George.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Dan Cole - 7

After being humiliated by the Australian front row last week he restored a bit of pride by dismantling the Uruguayan front three at the scrum. Rucked his heart out but was pretty quiet in the loose.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Joe Launchbury - 8

May have been embarrassed about winning last week’s Man of The Match Award but was certainly a strong contender against Uruguay. Imposed himself at the breakdown, forced a few turnovers and spoiled almost all of Uruguay’s attempts at setting up a rolling maul.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Geoff Parling - 7

Ran the lineout with real authority and orchestrated most of England’s rampant rolling mauls. Enjoyed a few forays in the loose too.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

James Haskell - 6

Looked rusty at times. Butchered two chances by fumbling the ball and was slow to the breakdown on several occasions, but made plenty of metres early on with some typically explosive carries.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Chris Robshaw - 6

With questions surrounding his captaincy and ability as an open side flanker, Robshaw may not have silenced his critics but he did finish off an awful World Cup campaign with a typically dogged display. Carried hard all evening and was first to almost every breakdown but dropped the ball a few times and concede two turnovers.

2015 Getty Images

England 60 Uruguay 3 player ratings

Nick Easter - 9

Deservedly awarded Man of The Match after a commanding performance. Galloped around the pitch and smashed his way over the gain line on countless occasions. The 37-year-old also became the oldest hat trick scorer in the history of Test-match rugby with three well-taken tries.

2015 Getty Images

Kieran Brookes will make his Northampton Saints debut against Worcester after being named in the front-row alongside Dylan Hartley, who returns from the ban that kept him out of England’s World Cup plans.

Finally, Gloucester will be able to call on Ben Morgan and Jonny May after the pair were named on the replacements’ bench, but the majority of England’s first-team players have been given the week off after having to deal with the fallout from a disastrous campaign in front of their own fans.

England Rugby World Cup players in action this weekend

Harlequins: (on bench) Joe Marler, Nick Easter, Mike Brown.

Northampton: Kieran Brookes

Gloucester: (on bench) Ben Morgan, Jonny May.

Bath: Anthony Watson, George Ford, (on bench) Rob Webber, David Wilson, Sam Burgess

Exeter: (on bench) Henry Slade

Saracens: Alex Goode, Jamie George, (on bench) Mako Vunipola, George Kruis

England Rugby World Cup player not in action

Tom Youngs, Dan Cole (both Leicester), Joe Launchbury (Wasps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Geoff Parling (Exeter), James Haskell (Wasps) Chris Robshaw (Harelquins), Tom Wood (Northampton), Billy Vunipola, Richard Wigglesworth (both Saracens), Danny Care (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester), Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt (both Saracens), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jack Nowell (Exeter).

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