Rugby World Cup 2015: Stuart Lancaster names unchanged England side for curtain raiser against Fiji

England will begin their World Cup campaign against Fiji with an unchanged XV from the side that bested Ireland in their final warm-up game. Geoff Parling will continue at lock ahead of Joe Launchbury while Ben Morgan remains at number eight at the expense of Billy Vunipola. Tom Wood meanwhile retains his spot at blindside flanker ahead of James Haskell.

Sam Burgess remains on the bench, with the only change in the 23 that beat Joe Schmidt's Ireland at Twickenham on 5 September seeing Rob Webber return as a replacement for Jamie George.

"The squad is massively excited to start the World Cup. Everyone has worked incredibly hard over the last three months and we are ready," Lancaster said. "All the players have put their hand up in training and the internationals we have played this summer and we are blessed to have such a strong squad to select from against a skilful and powerful Fijian side. The support of a nation is behind the team.

"Friday will be a great occasion for the whole squad and for the country. We are in a unique position to be playing in a World Cup on home soil and to have the support of a nation behind the team. That support will be a massive factor and we don't underestimate its importance."

England take on Fiji at 8pm on Friday 18 September.

England starting XV v Fiji: Brown (Harlequins); Watson (Bath), Joseph (Bath), Barritt (Saracens), May (Gloucester); Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); Marler (Harlequins), T Youngs (Leicester), Cole (Leicester), Parling (Exeter Chiefs), Lawes (Northampton), Wood (Northampton), Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Morgan (Gloucester).

Replacements: Webber (Bath), M Vunipola (Saracens), Brookes (Northampton), Launchbury (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens), Wigglesworth (Saracens), Farrell (Saracens), Burgess (Bath)