An England XV for 2019
The natural knee-jerk reaction to a decline in form in any team is to question selection.
Since England’s loss to Scotland – and with each loss thereafter – pundits, former players and fans whinging has risen to a din of consternation. Anyone with a vested interest in England can be heard braying about the minutiae of Eddie Jones’ England selection.
Whether you’re a ‘Ford out’ or an ‘Armand In’, the consensus is that Eddie’s England needs a spring clean and after a third loss on the trot, the embattled Australian hinted that he’s now of a similar mind.
With this in mind RugbyPass looks ahead to a potential England selection for 2019.
1: Mako Vunipola
The Saracens prop is one of England’s true worldclass operators and despite the flack the team have shipped, the loosehead is probably still one of the first on the teammate sheet.
2: Jamie George
No one thinks Hartley is a better player than George, but his dropping will bring with it a significant loss of leadership. But can Eddie justify the inclusion of the 34-year-old on leadership grounds alone for another 18 months. We suggest not.
3: Kyle Sinckler
A truly destructive carrier amid a team that has struggled to win the collision this tournament. He needs game time at the highest level and that means starting for England consistently.
4: Joe Launchbury
His doggedness, workrate and leadership mean the Wasps captain is lock-in at lock if you can excuse the dreadful pun. He has 51 caps for England and could yet become the Paul O’Connell/Alun Wyn Jones like figure this England team crave.
5: Maro Itoje
Second season syndrome or not, Itoje has looked tired. His abilities are beyond question at this stage, but it’s how England deploy him that still might warrant debate. Probably deserves a summer off.
6: Don Armand
With England struggling at the breakdown, it will become increasingly difficult for Jones to justify the continued selection of 6’7 lock Courtney Lawes at blindside. That experiment is over. While Armand plays seven at Exeter, a strong argument could be made towards stacking England’s backrow with ball-winners. Let’s face it, they are playing catch-up.
7: Sam Underhill
Underhill needs to get to the groundhog he was at Ospreys and not the Kamikaze tackling machine he’s become for England. Will face a battle with Tom Curry.
Just how reliant England are on Vunipola for go forward is worrying. Although the injured Nathan Hughes is slowing getting better at carrying at international level, he still cuts a pale shadow next to the 130kg Saracen.
9: Ben Youngs
Wigglesworth was not able to give England the ‘front foot’ ball Eddie craved against Ireland, and the Youngs/Care tag team still seems like England’s best option. It might be too late with the Rugby World Cup looming to develop Saracens’ Ben Spencer or Wasps Dan Robsonm, who are yet to earn an England cap between them.
10: Owen Farrell
Farrell can hold his head high despite England’s dreary Six Nations. Not having to mind George Ford could allow him to fulfil his true destiny as England’s answer to Jonny Sexton.
11: Anthony Watson
Watson’s fallibility under the high ball mean he isn’t the long-term solution that many England fans believe him to be. Playing on the wing will allow him to do what he does best – beat defenders – while minimising England’s exposure under aerial bombardment.
12: Manu Tuilagi
Yes, he’s perennially injured, but really, is there any English rugby player that is so ubiquitously feared as Tuilagi? Oh, and you can forget about gainline problems when Manu’s around.
13: Elliot Daly
England’s outstanding threat this Six Nations despite only appearing in the latter stages. Not only does Daly keep defences guessing, he has the speed to match the best in the world while his creativity with ball-in-hand means he can create for those around him. England need to get the ball to him more often, and playing at 13 brings him one position closer to the action.
‘Roko’ brings a strike running threat that has missing from an increasing blunt looking England attack. Has done little wrong in an England jersey. Jonny May maybe the fastest player in English rugby, but speed alone won’t unlock the world’s best defences. Rokoduguni brings the footwork and power in contact that May sorely lacks.
15: Chris Ashton
Is this really such a fanciful selection? Ashton has been a revelation at fullback for Toulon, where he has profited from running lines off the likes of Semi Radradra and Joshua Tuisova and is one try away from a Top 14 try record. We all know his face doesn’t fit, but can England really afford to ignore his ability to get over the whitewash?
Comments on RugbyPass
Jason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
4 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
23 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
23 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
23 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
23 Go to comments