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Don't bet against another series whitewash down under - Andy Goode

By Andy Goode
Marcus Smith and England coach Eddie Jones walk out to the field during the England Rugby squad captain's run at Optus Stadium on July 01, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

England’s second consecutive poor Six Nations has lowered expectations and meant hardly anyone is predicting a 3-0 whitewash like they achieved in Australia in 2016 but I think lightning might just strike twice.

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England will have to start this series a lot better than they did the latest Six Nations where some poor decision-making against Scotland, mainly from the head coach, cost them dearly but Eddie Jones’ team selection for the first Test is certainly an exciting one.

Much of it does pick itself with Jonny May ruled out and the likes of Henry Slade, Anthony Watson, Manu Tuilagi, Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler not on tour but recalls for Billy Vunipola and Danny Care, in particular, suggest Jones has decided to swallow his pride and that can only be a good thing for England.

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Mark Cueto on England rugby, Eddie Jones and the try that never was | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 40

Today we’re delighted to be joined by Ex England & Lions legend Mark Cueto to help preview an incredibly mouth watering weekend of international test match rugby, as well as hear some incredible stories from throughout his illustrious career. From Brian Ashton losing control of the England team at the 2007 world cup, to his hatred for Stuart Lancaster, the inside story of ‘Dwarf Tossing’ in NZ in 2011 and his thoughts on ‘Crazy Eddie Jones’ – there’s a lot to enjoy in this episode. Plus Ryan has just got back from a remarkably loose weekend in the Caribbean, Max has just flown in fresh from a stag-do in Vegas and Mark’s been at a 4 day wedding in New York – so on top of the rugby be prepared for a lot of fantastic stories and anecdotes .

Video Spacer

Mark Cueto on England rugby, Eddie Jones and the try that never was | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 40

Today we’re delighted to be joined by Ex England & Lions legend Mark Cueto to help preview an incredibly mouth watering weekend of international test match rugby, as well as hear some incredible stories from throughout his illustrious career. From Brian Ashton losing control of the England team at the 2007 world cup, to his hatred for Stuart Lancaster, the inside story of ‘Dwarf Tossing’ in NZ in 2011 and his thoughts on ‘Crazy Eddie Jones’ – there’s a lot to enjoy in this episode. Plus Ryan has just got back from a remarkably loose weekend in the Caribbean, Max has just flown in fresh from a stag-do in Vegas and Mark’s been at a 4 day wedding in New York – so on top of the rugby be prepared for a lot of fantastic stories and anecdotes .

In the case of the younger Vunipola brother, he has more than earned his selection and Eddie will no doubt claim it as a masterstroke if he excels but who knows if he would’ve been picked had Dombrandt and Simmonds been available.

Danny Care
Danny Care of England (L) and Eddie Jones, Head Coach of England (R) speak following the Quilter International match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on November 3, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Care’s call-up is far more significant, though, as we know there was a falling out there and the Harlequins man has been the form scrum half in the Premiership for the past couple of seasons.

This is his first Test for almost four years since the autumn of 2018 against Japan. He scored a try a couple of minutes into that game and if he can inject the kind of pace he does for Quins, whilst also helping Marcus Smith because of the relationship they have at club level, it might just provide the spark that England’s attack has been sadly lacking.

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Care’s addition should help and the return of Owen Farrell will add more leadership and nous to the midfield, as well as the other qualities he brings, but Smith has to be allowed to drive the team forwards rather than being asked to fit into a system that doesn’t suit him.

I also like the fact that Farrell hasn’t just been handed the captaincy straight back. He may well get it back during this series or over the course of next season but it’s fair to say he doesn’t have the best relationship with referees and Courtney Lawes has the respect of everyone so it seems to be another smart call from Jones at least in the short term.

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There’s also a chance that the England head coach might have taken at least a slightly dim view of Farrell’s decision to go for posts five minutes from the end of the Premiership final. It’s easy to say with hindsight but Saracens should be backing themselves to score a try nine times out of 10 from that position on the field and it was conservative at best.

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Joe Cokanasiga is another returning man. He played against USA and Canada last summer but he hasn’t featured since the 2019 World Cup and Jones likes his size, having picked a big team generally.

Australia will look at that and try to keep the ball in hand and move England around with Cokanasiga’s positional ability being tested but they aren’t a team who kick very much at all compared to most international sides so he might not be as exposed in that respect.

He might not be the best in the game defensively but he offers a point of difference and the fact that he’s scored eight tries in his last four Test starts for England tells you he’ll be a threat in attack.

The likes of Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman are a bit unlucky not to make the match day 23 but Guy Porter has just won the Premiership and offers a lot of versatility, while everyone is excited to see what Henry Arundell can do off the bench against a tiring defence.

(Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Clearly, the result of this series is massively important, as it always is, and momentum is a huge factor in sport. England desperately need some of that but we also need to see evidence of how they are trying to play in attack after scoring just eight tries in five games during the Six Nations.

Australia’s front five isn’t the strongest or most experienced and, of course, England are going to take them on up front but Smith needs to be given the freedom to play his own game and exploit the spaces off the back of that.

The talent is there to win this series 3-0 and if England can get off to a winning start this weekend, even if they have to grind it out, we might just see the more expansive attacking game that Eddie has been promising finally delivered on the hard, flat tracks down under.

We’ve got our hands on tickets to the upcoming eToro Series as the Wallabies take on England in their own backyard! Click here for your chance to win.

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Adrian 46 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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