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'Some of Eddie's selections do look like they're influenced by his contract situation' - Andy Goode

By Andy Goode
(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Eddie Jones has been guilty of picking square pegs in round holes many times before but he has taken things to a new level with his team selection to face Ireland this weekend.

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Putting Jonathan Joseph on the wing for his 50th cap when all of his previous Test starts have come at centre grabs the headlines but the fact that he has picked five second rows in the matchday 23 is even more baffling.

Add to that a six-two split on the bench with Henry Slade covering every position in the backs apart from scrum half and the ongoing selection of one of the world’s best fly-halves at centre and it really is difficult to see the thinking behind Eddie’s calls.

We know he loves to play games with the media, and he overstepped the mark again this week, and he isn’t likely to back down when criticised in the press as we’ve seen with Tom Curry’s selection at number eight as well but does he really think this is the best team he can pick?

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If I was Ollie Thorley, I’d be wondering why he’s chosen me in his squad when he’s picking a centre who last played on the wing over seven years ago ahead of me and it’d be interesting to know if questions have been asked behind the scenes.

No player is going to come out and say anything publicly, least of all an uncapped one, because that would damage their chances of selection moving forwards but and it’s a very difficult situation for them but someone should be challenging him.

Gloucester player Ollie Thorley in action during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm Stadium. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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We know an aerial bombardment is going to come from Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray and Joseph won’t have had to take too many high balls in his career and Elliot Daly has come in for some criticism for his handling of them as well.

If you’re asking a full back to play on the wing, that’s understandable but the defensive reads from the wing compared to outside centre are completely different so it’s a major gamble.

Ireland picked Robbie Henshaw out of position at fullback in this very fixture last year and paid the price. I hope I’m wrong but England might just be making exactly the same mistake.

Slade fit for England
England’s Henry Slade (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
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I’d like to think that Henry Slade and Manu Tuilagi would be partnering one another in the centres, with Owen Farrell at flyhalf, had they both not just returned from injury but having only Slade and Willi Heinz as backs cover on the bench seems a big risk.

Enough has been written and spoken about the absence of a big ball carrier at number eight and what playing there takes away from Curry’s game but that was never going to change for this game, with Ben Earl the only other option in the squad really.

However, including five second rows is a massive surprise. There can’t be many international sides that have picked two locks on the bench and it’s surely unprecedented to do so when you’ve got one starting in the back row as well!

He obviously wouldn’t admit it at all but some of his selections do look like they’re influenced by his contract situation as well.

Whilst France and to a lesser extent Wales and Ireland are building towards the next World Cup in 2023 and haven’t been afraid to throw new players in, Jones has just two years left on his contract and is unwilling to give a winger starring in the Premiership his Test debut.

Eddie Jones coaching
England’s Eddie Jones (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

I’ve said before that the RFU should have given him a four-year deal until after the next World Cup if he was staying on but they haven’t and I believe that has become an issue.

It seems daft to say it after England reached a World Cup final less than four months ago but this is a massive game for Jones. England’s Six Nations chances go up in smoke if they lose this one and there will definitely be question marks over the coach’s selections if they do.

At the start of the week I was confident of an England victory because of the Twickenham factor but I’m not so sure now the teams have been announced. I sincerely hope I’m mistaken but I think Eddie’s got this one badly wrong.

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Trevor 2 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.

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Bull Shark 6 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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