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5 talking points ahead of England's series decider against Australia
England and Australia clash in a series decider on Saturday in what is likely to be the last Test played at Sydney Cricket Ground.
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Here the PA news agency examines five talking points leading into a clash that will see the newly-created Ella-Mobbs Cup lifted for the first time.
Inspired by Origin
It may be a rival code but a compelling State of Origin decider on Wednesday caused ripples of excitement throughout England’s squad, who are now intent on propelling union to similar heights of high-intensity entertainment.
Owen Farrell and Jamie George have referenced Queensland’s extraordinary victory over New South Wales as they look to finish the season with a series triumph over the Wallabies.
The need for speed
If England and Australia are able to deliver a high-octane classic along Origin lines it will be in defiance of union’s current direction of travel of decreasing ball-in-play time, with overuse of the TMO and hard-line refereeing of high tackles among the causes.
Eddie Jones intends organising leading coaches, players and referees into a group to drive change in the hope of delivering a better spectacle in time for next year’s World Cup.
Whinging Aussies
Australia’s complaints over the niggle brought by England in the first two Tests have been firmly rejected, but the Wallabies do have a point.
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Jonny Hill repeatedly goaded Darcy Swain until the lock’s fuse eventually blew and he was sent off for a head butt. And Ellis Genge roughing up Nic White and taunting Michael Hooper were acts that trod a fine line.
England forwards coach Richard Cockerill believes the series has been “tame” so far, but the hosts say they have been steeling themselves for more provocation.
Finishing with a bang
There has been no mention of fatigue by England as they reach the final match of a long year that for several frontline players dates back to the Lions tour of South Africa.
“We’re in really good nick,” said Jones as he revealed that all training is completed by midday, meaning the players have the afternoons to “recover, relax and regenerate”.
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Back in the familiar surroundings of Coogee with his family home in Randwick nearby, Jones was full of insight and humour as he held court during Thursday’s team announcement. And his belief in England’s direction is evident: “I really like the way this team is developing.”
Care ousts JVP
It was trademark Jones to drop a young player a week after he had excelled and that is the fate that has befallen Jack van Poortvliet, the 21-year-old scrum-half who produced a full debut of remarkable maturity in Brisbane. His basics were rock solid, his delivery razor sharp and he exploit gaps when they appeared.
Danny Care comes in as his replacement because Jones believes the veteran Harlequin is better placed to exploit the quick ball he is expecting early on in Sydney, but is as much about the head coach’s careful management of young players.
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments