1
England have paid Sale a terrific compliment about Bevan Rodd
England assistant coach Matt Proudfoot have paid Sale a terrific compliment after Bevan Rodd, the Gallagher Premiership club’s loosehead, came through his Test level debut last Saturday with limited preparation having only joined Eddie Jones’ squad as a midweek call-up. The 21-year-old has been overlooked by Jones when the Jersey training camp and matchweek squads versus Tonga and Australia were originally named.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, that situation quickly changed on Tuesday afternoon last week when it was decided to call in the youthful rookie to replace the virus-stricken Joe Marler rather than make a call to the seasoned Mako Vunipola.
Rodd was named on the England bench on the Thursday behind Ellis Genge but the youngster’s dramatic leap up the pecking order didn’t end there as he was promoted to the No1 starting loosehead jersey on Friday morning after Genge was ruled out for the same reason that Marler was unavailable.
It left England in a somewhat vulnerable looking position, Rodd packing down against an Australian prop who had played 112 times for his country. However, any trepidation that the loosehead might be found wanting was quickly dispelled and he is now in line to make his second England start this weekend versus the Springboks as Genge will miss the match through isolation while Marler is only free to start training again with the squad at Friday’s captain’s run.
“A big part of the England set-up is resilience,” explained scrum coach Proudfoot when it was suggested to him by RugbyPass that the successful week Rodd enjoyed at such short notice reflected well on the English set-up.
There was no squad call-up this week for seasoned prop Mako Vunipola despite England having Joe Marler and Ellis Genge in isolation ahead of taking on the Springboks #England #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSerieshttps://t.co/ErrXVOTbzY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2021
“Every setback is an opportunity for us. Every situation is an opportunity, You either attack it or you let the opportunity dictate the outcome and it is Eddie’s philosophy that is brought into the team so whatever happens, we see it as an opportunity and Bevan just showed that mindset, that whatever comes we are resilient, we attack the opportunity and we made the best out of it. Bevan had been in in June, had trained really well and played really well for Sale. When a player is well-coached the way he is at Sale and then comes in and creates an opportunity and just has that mindset to be resilient, then things can happen for him and that is exactly what happened on Saturday.”
How potent the England scrum was against the Wallabies didn’t go unnoticed by Springboks boss Jacques Nienaber, who praised the set-piece the world champions are now set to face at Twickenham. “We are improving,” agreed Proudfoot.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It was an adaptation to bring in the two late replacements (Rodd and sub Trevor Davison) and they did incredibly well. We had a really good plan against Australia and I thought the players executed well. Around our binding, around our engagement, we can be a lot more accurate and that is what we worked on this week.”
Proudfoot added that his own emotions were irrelevant in this Autumn Nations series finale. It was 24 months ago when he coached the Springboks scrum to World Cup final dominance against England but he has since changed sides.
“This is the most important game of the year for us. We have worked really hard this summer to put together and bring together a lot of younger boys and then brought it through into the autumn so our team is growing, our team is developing and this is the most important hurdle for us, the final game.
“We want to end the year on a high, we want to end it with a bang so we are putting everything into this game. I don’t think I particularly have got emotions. My emotions are about getting this team to where we want it to be and for it to be successful and this is the game we have got to do it in.”
ADVERTISEMENT
It was 2018 when new England star Freddie Steward was starring in the RugbyPass documentary series on Leicester's academy… the 20-year-old now explains why his career has accelerated so quickly #England #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries #Springboks https://t.co/pW1rfvc7zo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
4 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
4 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments