England's back row and the light at the end of the tunnel
England may have enjoyed a significant amount of success over the past four seasons, but it was not that long ago that the Red Rose felt a long way off contending with the best international teams in the world.
Whether it was Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton trying to rebuild after the departing of the nation’s golden generation in 2003, or Martin Johnson’s baptism of fire between 2008 and 2011, the ability to compete consistently with the top two or three nations in the world over that period, usually the southern hemisphere ‘Big Three’, was sorely missing for England.
Even under Stuart Lancaster, with the former head of elite player development having put England on a path to a brighter future, there were still plenty of teething issues, although it was clear to see that his stint was a catalyst for the turning of the tide.
Throughout those tenures, a period of over 12 years, one of the most persistent critiques of England and its coaches was the lack of genuine top-class international ability in the back row and/or the balance of the back row units being selected.
Firstly, it was a tough act to follow.
The trio of Richard Hill, Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio has since gone down as one of the best, if not the best to ever play the game, with each legitimately in the equation as the best in the world at their position at the time and the chemistry between all three bordered on telepathic.
It cast an unenviable shadow for those that followed.
Joe Worsley and Lewis Moody did not lack for ability and will go down as two of the most committed to ever wear the jersey, whilst Nick Easter had his fair share of moments on the front-foot in international rugby.
Injuries robbed the world of anything more than a glimpse of Tom Rees at that level, they limited the wonderfully talented Tom Croft to 40 caps and the much yearned for Steffon Armitage saw his career blossom once he moved to France, at which point he became ineligible for selection.
Whether through injuries, unbalanced selections or just the unfair comparison to the three men that came before them, none of England’s subsequent back rows were quite able to transform their undoubted individual ability, into a consistently cohesive, impactful and disciplined group on the pitch.
Then came the era of the ‘6.5’, with the arrivals of James Haskell, Chris Robshaw and Tom Wood onto the scene. Perhaps unsurprisingly, as it coincided with the expectations of a home Rugby World Cup, that trio came in for particularly fiery criticisms from the public, with the lack of a more traditional openside bemoaned again and again (and again).
It should be noted, however, that all three played their roles in Eddie Jones’ success between 2016 and 2017, with Robshaw and Haskell in particular carving out integral roles for themselves within the team. Fans still wanted their ‘out and out seven’, but the consistent winning took the majority of barb, vitriol and venom out of the criticisms.
Jones will not look back fondly on the second half of 2017 and the first half of 2018, but the ship has since been righted and England look in relatively decent shape heading towards the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
One of the reasons for optimism in that tournament, after years of grumblings, is the make-up of England’s back row.
Mark Wilson has established himself as a consistent performer on the blindside, Billy Vunipola is among the world’s best at number eight and Tom Curry has assumed duties in the England seven jersey, taking to the role like a duck to water.
Not since Rees dominated contact areas up and down the country for London Wasps has English rugby been so enthused by a young openside, although the difference in this scenario is that Curry isn’t alone.
After breaking through in the mid-2000’s, Rees was immediately ordained as English rugby’s chosen one, in the most part due to his considerable ability, but also the lack of other options coming through at the time. If you compare that to the present, Curry’s story couldn’t be much more different.
Lewis Ludlam has been playing well for Northampton Saints and was recently called up to England’s Rugby World Cup training squad, Sam Underhill is developing a nice rivalry with Curry for the shirt and Saracens’ Ben Earl has been in and out of England training squads this past season. Were it not for injury, Jack Willis may have been in that mix, also.
The competition is coming from closer to home, too, where twin brother Ben is on the radar. Aaron Hinkley has had a good year at international age-grade levels, Will Evans is seeking to realise his early potential by moving to Harlequins and Josh Bayliss impresses whenever he plays, with his opportunities simply limited by Bath’s array of back row options.
At 23 years of age, Ludlam is the oldest of the nine, in a group of players that, based on what they’ve done in their young careers so far, only looks to further improve in the coming years.
This quickly expanding depth and array of exciting talents isn’t limited to the seven jersey, either.
Wilson won’t be losing the six shirt anytime soon, although with the flanker turning 30 at the Rugby World Cup, there will be at least one eye on the candidates to eventually usurp him.
Worcester Warriors’ Ted Hill already has a senior cap to his name and has impressed at all levels this season, Alex Dombrandt being plucked out of BUCS Super Rugby by Harlequins has proven to be a revelation of a move and Richard Capstick is highly thought of at Exeter Chiefs, such that they threw into senior action in his first season of professional rugby, something which is rare in the south-west.
Sam Simmonds and Zach Mercer are established options at the Premiership level at number eight, James Chisholm is a player on the cusp of recognition and Rus Tuima’s long-term potential is frightening, if he can put his physical gifts and technical ability together.
From being a perceived problem position for years to one now overflowing with bona fide future international options, Jones’ eventual successor will have their work cut out evaluating which players to move forward with.
Possible post-RWC depth chart (age in brackets)
Blindside | Openside | Number eight |
Mark Wilson (29) | Tom Curry (21) | Billy Vunipola (26) |
Brad Shields (27) | Sam Underhill (22) | Nathan Hughes (28) |
Alex Dombrandt (22) | Ben Earl (21) | Zach Mercer (22) |
Ted Hill (20) | Lewis Ludlam (23) | Sam Simmonds (24) |
Nick Isiekwe (21) | Jack Willis (22) | Jack Clifford (26) |
Tom Ellis (24) | Ben Curry (21) | Teimana Harrison (26) |
James Chisholm (23) | Josh Bayliss (21) | Tom Willis (20) |
Maintaining that pathway of options doesn’t seem to be an issue, either.
A raft of new back rowers join the league this summer, with Nahum Merigan, Jack Clement and Josh Gray spearheading the standouts, whilst names like Kayde Sylvester, Jack Forsythe, Emeka Ilione, Lynx Noumey and Will Trenholm are among the players going into their final year of schooling, aiming to win their first professional contracts.
Whether you subscribe to the theory that English rugby has improved its pathway and the Premiership clubs’ investment in their academies is paying off, or simply that these things can be cyclical, and a few bumper classes of back rowers was overdue, the outlook is exciting for England and these players.
Ball-in-play times have increased in the Premiership, the game has become faster and less static, and with less reliance on dominant scrums and more of an emphasis on player mobility, the changing face of the competition certainly seems to be helping develop these dynamic loose forwards.
Whatever the reasons, though, Jones and England will be happy with what they have at their disposal as they head towards Japan, as well as what the future bodes for the group.
In fact, Jones may wish he could trade one or two of them for a couple of scrum-halves.
Watch: ‘Nadolo’
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’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.
33 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
33 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
33 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.
33 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. 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.
33 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.
33 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.
1 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.
33 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.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to comments