ENGLISH FIVE TO WATCH ...

ANTHONY WATSON POSITION: Right wing. CAPS: 15. HEIGHT: 6ft 1in. WEIGHT: 14st 5lb. With seven tries in his last seven tests — a record only bettered by the world’s finest, Julian Savea — Watson is a formidable, if less imposing talent than the monster All Black. Equally adept at fullback, where he plays for Bath, the 21-year-old could become world class. For now he is quick, strong and slippery on the right

JOE LAUNCHBURY

POSITION: Second row. CAPS: 28. HEIGHT: 6ft 6in. WEIGHT: 18st 3lb. Launchbury plays in an area of considerable strength for the English, with Courtenay Lawes, George Kruis, Maro Itoje, Geoff Parling, Dave Attwood in contention below him. But Launchbury is the best of the bunch, hard-hitting, a good line-out option, able to release others with deft hands and to rampage through himself.

BILLY VUNIPOLA

POSITION: No 8. CAPS: 21. HEIGHT: 6ft 2in. WEIGHT: 19st 6lb. The younger of the Vunipola brothers, at 23, can be quite a wrecking ball. Sometimes accused of disappearing in big games, he has been behind Saracens’ dominance up front in the Aviva Premiership. He must add better distribution to his game if he is to become a top player as he can’t rely on his size forever.

JONATHAN JOSEPH

POSITION: Outside centre. CAPS: 16. HEIGHT: 6ft. WEIGHT: 14st 1lb. Jones did not want to throw too many debutants into the mix and Joseph retains his place. His absence against Wales in the World Cup caused England untold selection issues and ultimately led to an early exit. He is an elusive runner who will look for the outside break as often as he can, with brokenfield running his speciality.

MIKE BROWN

POSITION: Full-back. CAPS: 43. HEIGHT: 6ft. WEIGHT: 14st 3lb. Brown is superb under the high ball and always seems to make yards in attack. His combative style may come to define England’s new approach. One of the best full-backs in the world on his day, the Harlequin was perhaps one of two players to come out of the World Cup with credit. A thorn on the rose.