This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
England's World Cup campaign has taken an unexpected turn with the call-up of scrumhalf Ben Spencer for the final. Spencer, who has only 20 minutes of test rugby experience, is set to join the squad in Japan on Monday as an official injury replacement for Willi Heinz.
Heinz, a surprise selection in the World Cup squad, suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday's semi-final victory over New Zealand. The extent of his injury is not yet clear, but he will remain with the squad for the rest of the week.
Spencer's call-up has echoes of New Zealand's 2011 World Cup campaign, when fourth-choice flyhalf Stephen Donald was summoned from holiday to replace an injured player. Donald went on to kick the winning penalty in the final victory over France.
Spencer has previously come off the bench as a late replacement for England on three occasions, including twice on last year's tour of South Africa and against Scotland in the Six Nations in March.
His inclusion in the squad will likely come as a blow to Dan Robson, who has been in and out of England squads over the past two years and was seemingly next in line for a call-up before being cut from the squad in the summer.
