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Dallagio has selection advice for Eddie Jones as England hit by backrow crisis
Lawrence Dallaglio is urging Eddie Jones to pick the Exeter pair of Sam Simmonds and Don Armand to solve England’s Six Nations backrow crisis created by injuries to Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes and James Haskell’s red card.
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While Haskell is still to appear before a disciplinary hearing for his illegal hit on Harlequins Jamie Roberts, Jones knows he must rule Vunipola out of England’s bid for a historic third successive title with the Saracens No8 facing at least 12 weeks out after breaking is arm against Ospreys. Hughes is likely to miss the opening three championship games with Italy (Feb 4), Wales and Scotland due to knee ligament damage.
With Bath flanker Sam Underhill only just back after concussion problems, Jones will have to supplement his back resources when he names England’s Six Nations squad on Thursday.
Teimana Harrison, the Northampton No8, put in a big shift in the European Champions Cup pool win over Clermont Auvergne and will be in the selection mix but Dallaglio is adamant Armand and Simmonds deserve the chance to line up alongside Chris Robshaw as the starting back row against Italy in Rome.
That would mean shifting Robshaw to the No7 role Jones feels does not fully suit the Harlequin flanker’s skills set but given the injury problems, the former captain would be a safe pair of hands given the way Simmonds operates as a No8. The Exeter forward is much smaller than Vunipola and Hughes as a No8 but the lack of size would be offset by the inclusion of Armand who was capped by England on last summer’s tour of Argentina and was a key figure in Exeter’s Premiership title triumph last season.
Dallaglio, the former England No8 and captain, said: “Billy’s injury is headache for Eddie Jones who was really looking forward to having him back and so were the rest of his England team mates. With Nathan being out and James picking up a very untimely red card it’s going to cause selection problems. Harrison put in a very good performance for Saints in front of Jones and that will have been noted but Simmonds was outstanding for Exeter against Montpellier and I like the dynamism he offers off the base of the scrum.
“I know Eddie has said Simmonds needs to be a bit bigger and there was a possibility he may have given him a run at No7 against Italy with Billy back but his hand may have to be played now and Simmonds could slot into the No8 role without any problem. Eddie may also have to move Chris Robshaw back to No7 and then there are a number of choices for blindside with Courtney Lawes or Maro Itoje or dip into the pool of talent we have and the next in line is Don Armand. He has been outstanding for the Chiefs and cannot be that far away. You cannot say that week in, week out, Armand doesn’t deserve his opportunity. It is about balance in the back row and if you pick Simmonds and Armand you have club mates alongside each other.
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“We don’t know which bone Billy has fractured and you see a lot of guys in rugby who have broken their forearm and then suffer another break by coming back too soon. It is one of those injuries you have to get right and it is wretched luck for Billy who also missed the Lions tour and then had the first half of the season out with a knee injury. I know how hard he worked to get fit and be able to hit the ground running against Wasps.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty 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.
3 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
3 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.
3 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 commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments