The recurring theme of the Eddie Jones' era - Andy Goode
Last week’s England performance typified the second half of the Eddie Jones era and so does the situation they find themselves in today.
It always seems to be on a knife edge and they go into the final Test of 2022 on the back of a win, a draw and a defeat in this Autumn Nations Series, knowing that a win will see the autumn viewed as broadly successful but a loss will make it look disastrous.
Although they did improve in the second half, they were disjointed and toothless for 70 minutes against the All Blacks but that 10-minute spell at the end to salvage a draw is how England fans want to see their side playing and will have them dreaming again.
Of course, you can’t go out there and just chuck the ball around without any structure from minute one but you did get a sense that the players themselves stepped up in those final 10 minutes last week, cast the shackles off and took control.
It has been a theme of Jones’ tenure that he has been a bit too prescriptive and autocratic at times but the players need to be empowered to make decisions and play what’s in front of them.
Facing the Springboks is the perfect test of that, not just because they are world champions but because you know what you’re going to get from them and the last thing England need is to get drawn into playing the game they want to play.
They may have a number of their frontline players missing but it’s still a strong-looking team on paper and they’ll be sending up plenty of contestable kicks and trying to draw England into the scrappy stuff.
That’s not to say South Africa don’t have the ability to score incredible tries but I don’t think we’re going to see the ball thrown wide to Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse too often.
That explains the selection of Tommy Freeman, who was in the side before his recent foot injury and is considered better at dealing with an aerial bombardment than Jack Nowell.
The fact that Jones has dropped both vice captains to the bench, with Ellis Genge also among the replacements, possibly reflects a desire to have his very own ‘bomb squad’ ready in reserve and it’ll be interesting to see how Mako Vunipola gets on in the tight.
The Saracens man is still a phenomenal player in the loose but he has had his issues at scrum time over the years and there’s no doubt he’s in for a thorough examination in that area.
It’s no surprise that Jones has gone for a horses for courses selection again in picking a bigger man at blindside this week, as opposed to Sam Simmonds, but Alex Coles is a hybrid second row-cum-back row and there’s far more to his game than just muscle.
It’s great to see Manu Tuilagi winning his 50th cap and everyone knows it should have been a lot more than that had it not been for all those injuries over the course of the past 11 years since his debut.
He’s still England’s biggest asset but Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell have to start finding more ways to get the best out of him. He attracts three or four players at times, which creates space for others, but we need to see him with the ball in hand a bit wider.
He’s up against Jesse Kriel, who has stood up well this autumn but hasn’t played a lot at outside centre over the past few years, and I think that’s an area that England could target as well as looking to put pressure on an inexperienced fly half in Damian Willemse.
The result today is massively important as it completely dictates how the autumn will be viewed as a whole and how England fans will feel about their team heading into the Six Nations but I think it’s more important that we start to understand the team’s identity.
It can’t always be playing in fits and starts and coming up with a 10-minute spell to rescue a draw or pulling a rabbit out of a hat to win a game and we have to see a clear way of playing and an 80-minute performance.
Rassie Erasmus’ absence has stolen a lot of the headlines in the build-up and Jones is no stranger to making controversial comments in the media to deflect the narrative away from his team’s performance either.
Erasmus not being there won’t have any real effect on the Springboks, though, and they’ll be looking for one last push in the knowledge that they won’t be playing together as an international unit for a while afterwards.
The World Cup-winning coach is making massive waves at the moment and attracting some significant criticism from former Boks back home now but England will be hoping to see a few more videos posted on social media tomorrow as that suggests they’ll have won the battle.
England edged this one last year but had to rely on a last-gasp Smith penalty to do so. They should be going into this one as favourites at Twickenham and we need to see them own that tag and show us what we can expect from them in 2023.
Comments on RugbyPass
You 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?
43 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.
5 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
5 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.
5 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
5 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.
5 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 commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments