England ‘Need a Convincing Performance’ against USA

Eddie Jones has made 10 changes for England’s second game of the World Cup against USA on Thursday.

George North will captain the side with usual skipper Owen Farrell named on the bench. While Elliot Daly, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola and Joe Marler are the only other players to keep their place following Sunday’s win over Tonga.

Joe Cokanasiga is set for his first taste of World Cup rugby and he’s 7/1 to score the first try of the game.

With just a four day turn around in between games it’s no surprise to see Jones ringing the changes for what is expected to be another intense, physical battle.

Despite the 35-3 scoreline, England’s victory over Tonga was far from convincing and Eddie Jones knows they’ll have to improve dramatically if they’re to have any chance of winning the tournament outright. That said a win is a win, and there’ll be plenty of relief within the camp following the disappointment of 2015.

The two sides last met at the 2007 Rugby World Cup where England claimed a 28-10 victory. It’s 2/1 for USA +24 on the handicap.

In truth it should be a routine victory for England, the question, though, is by how many? They’re 3/1 to win by 31-40 points and 8/11 to be winning by 15 or more points at half time.

A USA victory would be one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, and they’re a massive 50/1 to do exactly that.