England backs give them edge against Australia - Andy Goode
The tables have turned and England’s edge is in the backs rather than the forwards now, but I fully expect them to avenge the defeat at the 2015 World Cup and make it 7-0 against Australia over the past four years.
Historically, England have dominated Australia in the forwards more often than not over the past couple of decades but the teams look fairly well-matched in that area in this one. I still expect them to have a slight edge but it’s in the backs where they have the real advantage.
They have a significant advantage at half-back, where Will Genia hasn’t been playing anywhere near the level that he has done in the past and Christian Leali’ifano tends to play a bit deeper than the other fly-halves they have.
From an England perspective, I’m pleased not to see Nic White in there as he’s been hugely impressive over the course of the past year or so and he could do some real damage off the bench.
We don’t know what selection would have looked like for England against France but Eddie Jones has reverted to the Six Nations formula as opposed to the one that has been successful in the warm-up games and the first few games of the World Cup.
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It has raised a few eyebrows but it’s the right call. Ultimately, Owen Farrell is England’s leader and best player and should be playing in his best position and steering the ship from No10.
George Ford hasn’t been dropped on form because he has been playing well, but the team hasn’t been tested yet and this will be a step up. He probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to start anywhere near as much of late if it hadn’t been for Henry Slade’s injury either.
Ford is one of the best fly-halves in world rugby on the front foot but you can’t hide from the fact that he has gone missing a bit in big games in the past. The timing of the change might have surprised some but you can’t account for injuries and the midfield axis of Farrell, Slade and Manu Tuilagi was the incumbent one prior to Slade’s injury.
‘Even experts, we can’t tell on some of the concussions. It's a very diverse, varied sort of reaction to head injury. Every person is different’
– Dr Rahul Jandial on what message @owen_faz not needing @rugbyworldcup HIAs sends out to grassroots rugby https://t.co/qXyyECYsjl— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2019
Of course, there will be one eye on Australia’s selection as well and, with Samu Kerevi likely to be running down the No10 channel a lot, there are question marks over Ford’s defence and this combination does look more solid defensively.
Michael Cheika might like to say that he just concentrates on his own team rather than paying attention to the opposition but he will have been analysing England in detail, especially with his defence coach, and if he hasn’t been, he hasn’t been doing his job properly.
Picking Jordan Petaia at centre is possibly an indication that he has been as well as he and Kerevi have the physical capabilities to match England’s centres. Petaia may only be 19 and this may be his first Test start at centre but he has huge potential and could be dangerous.
England vs Australia #RWC2019 #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/xz086iXRUC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2019
The other interesting pick for England is Courtney Lawes ahead of George Kruis. I know that call has always been pretty close between the two of them and Kruis often gets in because he is the lineout leader but the Wallabies lose a lineout option by selecting Michael Hooper and David Pocock together so maybe that allows Lawes to get in because of what he offers around the park.
It will be fascinating to see Sam Underhill and Tom Curry, the Kamikaze Kids as Eddie Jones has labelled them, go up against the masters in terms of a dual openside threat in Hooper and Pocock.
Their battle and the one at scrum time could be key in deciding who gets the upper hand if referee Jerome Garces enables those contests. There won’t be much communication at the breakdown as we know and it will be who adapts best that gets the better of things there.
“You can’t be brutal and lose your head, so it’s about being physical and brutal and making those good decisions."#ENGvAUS #RWC2019 ??https://t.co/riVmRnEQlN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 17, 2019
England will stick to their power game but will be looking to use their kick-chase to put pressure on Australia’s back three, win the territory battle and force the Wallabies into errors.
Jones has won six out of six against Cheika’s Australia with England and they will be desperate to get their first win in this fixture since the 2015 World Cup. People often say history counts for nothing but it’s always there under the surface even if it isn’t mentioned all the time and there will be an air of confidence within the England team that they have done it before.
England are favourites going into the game and they have too much power and finishing ability out wide for Australia. They will win it by eight points.
WATCH: Former Australian international Matt Giteau sits down with RugbyPass in the latest episode of Rugby World Cups Memories
Comments on RugbyPass
“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
1 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to comments