Eddie Jones explains his new back-row selection for NZ
Eddie Jones insists England are ready to take on New Zealand’s historical strength after picking two number eights for Saturday’s Twickenham showdown.
Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds, both specialists in the position, have been picked in a back row completed by Tom Curry for the first clash with the All Blacks since a crushing win in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
Maro Itoje moves back to lock to make room for Simmonds at blindside flanker and the three changes in personnel to the side that thumped Japan 52-13 are completed by the return of wing Jack Nowell and centre Manu Tuilagi.
It is the make-up of the back row that is most intriguing, however, with Simmonds’ last start at flanker coming in the Premiership five years ago.
However, they were paired together when Vunipola came on for the final quarter of the Brave Blossoms rout that nudged England’s autumn back on track having fallen to Argentina in the series opener.
Jones said: “It’s a bit horses for courses against New Zealand. Traditionally if you look at the history of the game, New Zealand’s strength is their back row.
“Their most talismanic players have always been their back rows. Look at Graham Mourie, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Wayne Shelford, Zinzan Brooke. We feel that battle is going to be quite important in the game.
“Sam gives us a little bit more mobility and a little bit more contest at the breakdown, which again is going to be important.
“Billy’s job is to get us over the gain line. If you can get over the gain line against New Zealand you can present problems for their defence and Billy has the opportunity to do that.”
The tweaks to the back five reduce the number of line-out jumpers from three to two just a week after Jones insisted that a trio of options at the set-piece is essential.
“Ideally we would have three jumpers, but we just feel we need that contest in the back row for this week,” Jones said at Thursday’s team announcement.
“Maro’s preferred position is definitely lock, but he can play six. We’re pleased with the way Alex Coles is developing but for this game we feel that’s the best balanced pack.”
Jack van Poortvliet’s selection ahead of Ben Youngs heralds a changing of the guard at scrum-half with the 21-year-old rookie preferred over his Leicester team-mate for the main event of the autumn.
First capped on the summer tour to Australia, he is now first choice in the position in only his sixth Test. Meanwhile, England’s most capped player sits on the bench.
“We’ve been bringing Jack through. He’s been coming along nicely in this series and he’s ready to start now,” Jones said.
“The last 20 minutes of the game against New Zealand is generally when the game is won or lost and Ben’s experience then will be invaluable for us.”
Owen Farrell will join Youngs and Jason Leonard in the small band of England Test centurions when he runs out at Twickenham and Jones paid tribute to his captain, who made his debut as a 20-year-old a decade ago.
“Whatever team Owen plays in, he makes better. He’s a tough and uncompromising player who plays close to his best nearly every game I’ve seen him play,” Jones said.
“Owen brings people with him like Richie McCaw did for New Zealand.”
New Zealand enter their final match of 2022 on the back of a six-Test winning run, but prior to that they had lost six out of eight games in a barren spell that left head coach Ian Foster fighting for his future.
“I’ve coached against New Zealand since 2000 I think and they have never lack motivation,” Jones said.
“And they particularly don’t lack motivation against England, who we know they probably don’t like a great deal. So I’m sure they’ll be highly motivated.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments