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'A noticeable step forward': Where Exeter reckon Lions helped Hill
Exeter boss Rob Baxter has suggested that the Jonny Hill who arrived at England camp in Jersey on Monday is a much-improved version of the lock that was involved with Eddie Jones’ squad for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations earlier this year. The Chiefs were humbled at home last Saturday by London Irish in their final match before their England players headed away for Test preparation duties.
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However, Hill departed with no finger of blame getting pointed in his direction by Baxter following a loss that left Exeter in sixth place, twelve points behind leaders Leicester. This time last year the 27-year was preparing to make his Test debut versus Italy and while the collective England form slumped last spring, the rookie Hill still did enough to earn Lions selection.
The tour to South Africa didn’t go extravagantly well. Hill didn’t make the Test squad but Baxter reckons the lessons learned on that adventure has helped the forward develop into an even more threatening menace capable of performing impressively with England in the coming weeks versus Tonga, Australia and South Africa.
“Some of the conversations you have with players are confidential so I don’t want to say too much but I certainly think in his own mind he probably thinks that he could have done better at the end of last season, which would have set him up better for the Lions which would then have given him more opportunities to play,” suggested club coach Baxter about his second row.
“That is part of that learning as a player and looking at him already (this season), that is the lesson he has learned. He has come back and been thoroughly involved with us and has stayed thoroughly involved with us up to the last minute of the game (against Irish) before he headed off with England and I fully expect him to carry on with that.
Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg has finally reflected on his demoralising summer#Scotland #AutumnNationsSeries #SCOvTON #Lions #Chiefs
https://t.co/Kl3B4XELL3— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 26, 2021
“It [the Lions] has been a very good experience for him despite him not playing very much. It’s like anything, you learn a lot about yourself when you are disappointed by what has happened more than when it has been great and that is the same with Jonny, he is on a very good pathway towards understanding and experiencing very important things in a good rugby player’s career.
“He was very good for the last three Exeter games. He was probably one of the guys who didn’t get as much wrong as he thinks he did at the weekend because he has certainly got on with it since he got back in.
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“He has got mistakes in him but on the whole, he has been having great energy. In two out of the three games, he has actually been the forward with the most involvement in the game. Now I am not going to say every involvement has been amazing but there was a lot of them.
“That is a noticeable step forward that I have seen, his actual involvements and his willingness to be involved in the game for long periods and getting onto the next thing and the next involvement has been fantastic in these three weeks.
“That will be the thing that will allow him to improve the quickest and will certainly allow him to impress himself on the international scene because that is what you have to do. You have to be able to come from a club where you are quite happy, you feel quite capable and want to have lots of involvement.
“You have to step into the international arena and have exactly that same attitude of getting on with things and having lots of impacts and involvements in your game and hopefully that is what he will continue with England and then you will start to see the best of him.”
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It wasn't that long ago when the hype was for Joe Simmonds to be in the England squad, but he currently can't even get his Exeter start…#England #Chiefs #GallagherPrem #EXEvLIR
https://t.co/hzuN9OHk3y— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 21, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
32 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments