Jonny May clinches England World Cup spot after try in defeat to Fiji at Twickenham… as he replaces the injured Anthony Watson in Steve Borthwick’s 33-man squad

Jonny May has successfully secured a place in England’s World Cup squad, having scored a first-half try against Fiji at Twickenham in his first Test appearance under Steve Borthwick.

The 33-year-old winger from Gloucester had missed the cut when head coach Borthwick named his chosen 33 players for the tournament on 7 August. But the calf injury suffered by Anthony Watson in England’s defeat to Ireland in Dublin created a vacancy and May was recalled and selected to start the final warm-up match, doing enough in his audition to be retained.

In the ninth minute of the encounter with Fiji, he broke off the left side and fended off rival wing Selesitino Ravutaumada to strike in the corner and register an England defender’s first try for some six hours of play.

May also worried the Fijians with his aerial athleticism and work rate. In the second half, Ravutaumada turned the tables and mounted a try for the victorious visitors, but by then the No. 11 England veteran had done enough to convince Borthwick of his lasting value.

As a result, May has been included in a revised and final tournament roster, which will be submitted before the official deadline tomorrow night. He has earned a place ahead of younger, prolific Harlequins finisher Cadan Murley.

Borthwick (left) has selected May to replace the injured Anthony Watson (right) in his squad

The other change from the original 33 is the presence of Alex Mitchell as one of the three scrum halves, instead of the injured Jack van Poortvliet.

Other recent victims, Tom Curry, Kyle Sinckler, Elliot Daly, Henry Arundell and George Martin, are all listed to go to France, backing up Borthwick’s positive bulletins about their prospects of being fit to face Argentina in the opener in Marseille on September 9.

Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola have been retained as they are serving bans for high tackles.

May (right) scored a try in his first Test appearance under Borthwick in the defeat to Fiji

There were fears that England would face another disciplinary setback following a controversial tackle by Joe Marler on Fiji fullback Albert Tuisue.

Referee Jaco Peyper said replays of the incident were inconclusive, but the visitors’ head coach Simon Raiwalui said after the game: “It was a clear high shot and straight to the head.” However, there have been no quotes after a match review, so Marler is clear.

The England squad is made up of around 16 players who will compete in their first World Cup and, at the other end of the spectrum, three men – Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs – who will be part of the global showpiece for the fourth time. .

Borthwick’s team is in Group D of the tournament and will compete against Argentina, Japan, Chile and Samoa.