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
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
3 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
3 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments