Dare to Daly or back to Brown? Jones' Dublin dilemma
If there were a player in rugby who summed up the saying “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” better than any other, it is almost certainly England full-back Mike Brown.
For years, English rugby fans have yearned for a change in the 15 jersey. They have clamoured for passing and offloading, yet both Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones have stuck by their man, to the point where the 33-year-old will be eyeing up his 73rd cap in Dublin this weekend.
Aside from a couple of injuries here and there, Brown has been one of the mainstays of the England side over the last seven years. He has brought defensive solidity, adept aerial skills and effective strike-running to the jersey over that period, but that has not been enough for large sections of a demanding fan base.
Calls have gone out for Alex Goode for almost as long as Brown has been the incumbent full-back. Chris Pennell flashed moments a few years ago and Anthony Watson has been talked up as the best long-term prospect, whilst Elliot Daly’s ability to counter-attack from deep has also been lusted over.
For whatever reason, Goode’s face clearly doesn’t seem to fit in Jones’ vision, Pennell’s case has not been helped by Worcester generally languishing near the bottom of the Gallagher Premiership and Watson is currently injured. Jones did finally relent last summer, however, moving Daly to 15 and switching Brown into the vacant spot on the wing. He then opted to carry the experiment on in the autumn internationals, keeping Daly at 15, but this time not involving Brown at all in the matchday 23.
Between the three-test tour of South Africa and the quartet of games at Twickenham, it’s been an insightful seven-game stint with Daly as England’s full-back, one which showed his strengths and weaknesses at the position equally.
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As expected, his ability to counter-attack, contributions on transition, ability to play behind the defensive line and his creative influence in the wider channels all showed up to varying degrees. What also showed up, however, was a positional naivety, as well as struggles to deal with the aerial contests for the ball, particularly when put under pressure by an effective kick chase.
To be clear, these aren’t ingrained weaknesses within Daly’s game. He is usually positionally strong, which he showed in his adaptation to a wing role with England not too long ago, and his ability in the air is more than passable. Unfortunately, these things are likely a symptom of him playing his club rugby with Wasps at outside centre and then being asked to take on the responsibilities of full-back at the international level, something which is even more challenging than when he had to go from 13 to wing in previous seasons.
When those contested catches weren’t cleanly taken or an opposition kick ended up bouncing in front of the back three in the autumn internationals, it hurt England. Now, Jones and his side are gearing up to face Ireland, who are arguably the best architects of a contestable kicking game in world rugby, through a combination of their effective chase and the cultured boots of Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton.
The pre-match narrative is that Ireland will try to expose England in this area and that it’s going to be a territorial affair. That Ireland are going to replicate what they showed in 2017 and play the percentages, rather than look to keep the ball in hand, which they have shown more of a proclivity for doing in the last year. Whichever way you see it going, there is no doubt that Ireland’s kicking game will have a significant role in the game, although possibly not as prodigiously used as it was in the 13-9 victory in 2017.
With that in mind, the case for recalling Brown to the 15 jersey is a strong one.
He plays the position week in, week out and is comfortable marshalling his wings and making sure they are where he needs them. Ireland will throw the likes of Jacob Stockdale, James Ryan and Robbie Henshaw forward in their chase and England will need someone to read the kicking game, get to right spot on the pitch and then own the aerial space before ball and chaser arrive.
It’s not that Daly cannot do that, it’s just that with Willie le Roux filling that role at Wasps, he has precious little time to knock off the full-back rust in camp with England, and to go up against Ireland in the opener, of all Six Nations teams, is an unenviable task. It’s almost putting a player into a position not to succeed.
Admittedly, Brown’s strike-running may have diminished in offensive value since England moved away from a dual ball-handler axis at 10-12, but the defensive reliability he brings, in a contest as tight as Ireland vs England is likely to be, is hard to overlook.
There is the wildcard of Jack Nowell to be considered. He has recently resumed a role at full-back with Exeter Chiefs and has shown up very well. Could he be a blending of the best of both worlds, bringing positional and aerial security with a more versatile attacking game?
In the absence of Watson, who has previously excelled against Ireland by providing that mixture of pragmatism and extravagance, it feels like something that is worth a look, but maybe not in a championship opener against such effective operators as Ireland. All of Nowell’s previous starts for England have come at wing or at outside centre, but a role at full-back against Italy or France could be an experiment with promising dividends, if that’s something Jones wants to explore.
Back to Ireland, though, and the case for Brown to resume his role as England’s starting full-back is a compelling one.
It’s not just the aerial battle, but also Ireland’s move away from one-out carriers, gradual territory accumulation by box-kick and a priority on ball-security over keeping phases alive. Ireland are at a point in their evolution where they will play if they think it’s on and one area where England were exposed in the autumn was in the mobility of their midfield.
When the Springboks and All Blacks managed to get quick ball, they were able to move it out wide and turn the corner against England, often isolating a lone winger with a two-on-one. Should England opt for that same midfield of Ben Te’o and Henry Slade, it is potentially, again, an area where they can be caught. Having a full-back who can read the play and get there and assist the wing – because it’s his weekly role at club level and he is used to performing it – then that could be something which is decisive.
There is a reason that Jones loves Brown and it is the same reason that Lancaster loved him before that. He is purpose-built for these kind of contests.
When le Roux leaves Wasps in the summer, Daly, assuming he stays to see out the final year of his contract, could well be moved to full-back and he’ll get all the game-time in the position he needs. Maybe he moves to Saracens in the coming months and does enough at outside centre to be considered in that role for England, with a fit-again Watson nailing down the post-Rugby World Cup 15 jersey.
There are a whole host of permutations and that is both the strength and weakness of having a very versatile back line like the one England do, but in terms of giving Jones and his side the best chance of winning in Dublin, the veteran presence of Brown is hard to argue against.
The grass will always look greener on the other side and the last seven games have shown that Daly is a wonderful rugby player and should have a spot in the England XV, but that he is not, at least at international level, the best all-round option England currently have at full-back.
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Comments on RugbyPass
A 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?
11 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.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 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.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments