Cuts, bolters and momentum versus renewal: Picking a 33-man England Six Nations squad
For many nations, the 2020 Guinness Six Nations is a time of renewal, rejuvenation and the beginning of a new era, though that’s not quite as true of England.
France, Ireland, Italy and Wales all boast new coaches, eager to put their own stamp on the teams, whilst Scotland are coming off of a disappointing group stage exit at the Rugby World Cup in Japan last year and there is an expectation that there will be a significant level of change for Gregor Townsend’s side.
As for England, they are unlikely to rapidly change their identity with the team still coached by Eddie Jones and, coming off the back of an appearance in the Rugby World Cup final, it’s difficult to make a case that the majority of that side shouldn’t continue as England’s core moving forward. The loss to South Africa in the final aside, it was an encouraging campaign from England who, arguably fairly, went into that match as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
Of course, there are several members of that squad who are now at an age whereby the likelihood that they make it to the 2023 Rugby World Cup is slim. It may be that Jones moves on from them immediately, or he could persist them with them in the short-term, with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus showing that you don’t necessarily need to start your preparations for a major tournament at the beginning of the cycle if you want to taste success at rugby’s most prestigious event.
From an age perspective, Dan Cole (32) and Willi Heinz (32) are among the potential cuts, leaving Jones with the challenge of finding competition for incumbent starters Kyle Sinckler and Ben Youngs. At 30, Youngs could also be one in a battle to make the next Rugby World Cup, although it’s unlikely Jones would move on from the Leicester Tigers just yet, as it would see one of the most pivotal positions on the pitch stewarded by two relative rookies at this level.
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Harry Williams would be the obvious replacement for Cole, with the Exeter Chiefs tighthead having narrowly missed out on Rugby World Cup selection and boasting a fair amount of international experience already. Should Jones wish to look for a younger option to groom behind Sinckler, Will Stuart at Bath and Ehren Painter at Northampton Saints are two potential candidates.
As for scrum-half, Ben Spencer looks like the frontrunner to join Youngs in the squad, with Jones having previously shown a tendency to go with just two half-backs in the majority of his squads. This would leave Dan Robson as the odd man out, with Spencer having been the preferred option during the Rugby World Cup when Heinz went down with injury. It would also be the perfect position for one of Jones’ ‘apprentice’ selections, with a host of talented young nines, like Raffi Quirke and Jack van Poortvliet, likely to benefit from being in that environment.
Lock was a real strength of England’s during the Rugby World Cup and one position where people thought there would be little turnover this year, although a potential injury to Courtney Lawes and George Kruis’ possible departure for Japan could blow the door wide open for an ambitious young second row.
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Charlie Ewels has been on the cusp of the squad for a while now, whilst Jonny Hill has pressed his claims repeatedly with Exeter Chiefs. Nick Isiekwe is one of the form players in the Gallagher Premiership this season, although his proclivity for playing on the flank for Saracens could push Jones to the supremely talented Joel Kpoku, who is the latest player off the production line at that club’s second row factory.
The back row is relatively young and combined well at the Rugby World Cup, something which could keep out the likes of Ben Earl, Ben Curry and Ted Hill at this point, although finding a genuine deputy for Billy Vunipola is surely high on Jones’ list. Could it be Alex Dombrandt? Or would the Australian be willing to sacrifice size and go for an alternative game plan with someone like Sam Simmonds?
There is no need for change in the back line outside of scrum-half, either, so the question becomes whether or not a player has done enough to force Jones’ hand and include them.
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Marcus Smith, Ollie Thorley, Joe Simmonds, George Furbank and Ollie Lawrence, they have all impressed for their clubs so far this season and offer intriguing options for England moving forward. There has been no indication thus far from Jones that he wants to tinker with his fly-half options of Owen Farrell and George Ford and he has been consistent in his admiration of Elliot Daly as a full-back, making the jobs of Smith, Simmonds and Furbank that bit more difficult.
The two Ollies offer attacking X factor, certainly, and with Bath and Leicester having struggled so far this season, it has not been the platform that Jonny May and Anthony Watson would have wanted, potentially moving Thorley into contention. As for Lawrence, Joe Marchant is soon to become temporarily unavailable to England, which could make the Worcester centre the next man up for England outside of their established midfield options of Manu Tuilagi, Jonathan Joseph and Henry Slade.
That all being said, Jones has never been a coach to select on form, rather the attributes that individuals bring to the squad. If a player ticks the boxes that the Australian looks for, club form becomes a far less influential selection metric.
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It’s a guessing game at this point, with Jones having dropped few hints on how he will approach his Six Nations selection, as he attempts to balance building momentum with his 2019 core and freshening it up in order to bring new challenges to his incumbent players.
Without the enforced turnover that a number of England’s biggest rivals have had to go through, though, the defeated finalists will be a tough proposition for anyone over the next two months.
Potential 33-man England squad:
Forwards: Mako Vunipola, Ellis Genge, Beno Obano, Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Dunn, Kyle Sinckler, Harry Williams, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis (if eligible)/Joel Kpoku, Courtney Lawes (if fit)/Jonny Hill, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola, Lewis Ludlam, Alex Dombrandt.
Backs: Ben Youngs, Ben Spencer, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Manu Tuilagi, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson, Jonny May, Ollie Thorley, Jack Nowell, Elliot Daly, George Furbank.
Apprentices (if taken): Alfie Barbeary, Freddie Steward.
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Comments on RugbyPass
There’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to comments