England's Australian test will dictate the mood heading into 2019 and improvement is needed
If you were looking for a word to sum up how Eddie Jones and England fans are feeling about the national side’s autumn so far, you could be reaching if you opted for anything more positive than ‘content’.
Against South Africa, England got a result without a performance. There were great moments of resiliency and an impressive powerplay in the 20 minutes after half time, but it was a game where luck and Springbok deficiencies, as much as anything else, handed the game to England. That’s fine, England hadn’t played a game since their victory over the Springboks in Cape Town during the summer, whilst South Africa had competed in The Rugby Championship and had far fewer excuses for rust and errors than England did.
Then came the formidable challenge of the All Blacks, which proved to be almost the polar opposite of the win against South Africa, with England providing an impressive performance but without the steely edge required at the end of both halves to secure a win. There were flashes of brilliance from a side bereft of many key starters and for all the agony of the tight loss, in review and retrospect it should provide those players involved with a belief that they can match anyone in the world.
Neither result seemed to fill fans with great enthusiasm, but it showed, at the least, that England haven’t fallen far from that top tier of teams in international rugby, despite strong indications to the contrary earlier in 2018.
Ironically, England’s biggest win of the autumn so far, a 35-15 victory over Japan, probably brought the least celebration, with the Cherry Blossoms showing all the guile and ingenuity in the first half that they did against the Springboks in 2015, and England fans would have been nervous of another giant killing when Japan took a 15-10 lead into the second half.
Enter, Captain Farrell.
The arrival of the playmaker in the second half brought a clear improvement in the cohesiveness of the side, both offensively and defensively, and England were able to finish strongly at Twickenham, scoring 25 unanswered points.
Not bad, but not particularly good, either, and that’s why there is now such importance on England ending the autumn on a real high note against Australia, with games running out before the beginning of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
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Watch: Eddie Jones and George Ford dissect England’s performance against Japan.
England are on a five-match win streak against the Wallabies, retaining the Cook Cup for an extended period after their last loss to Australia, the result which denied them passage to the quarter-finals at the 2015 RWC. In fact, England have won nine of the last 11 games in this historic rivalry, and if there is a psychological advantage in the contest, it belongs to the side hosting at Twickenham on Saturday.
That advantage, no matter how great or small it may be, is not something England will be keen to relinquish anytime soon, especially as they seek to exorcise their RWC ghosts next year.
If Jones can get his side to combine the positive elements of the matches against South Africa and New Zealand, bringing together resiliency with overall performance, and extend that winning streak over Australia to six games, things will be looking much rosier for England heading into 2019.
Given Australia’s performances over the last couple of weeks, it’s a victory which England should be expected to notch up.
If the defining word of England’s autumn so far is ‘content’, then the most suitable for the Wallabies and Michael Cheika would ‘underachievement’.
Australia fell to a 9-6 loss to Wales in the opening match of their tour, which ended a 13-match win streak against Wales that had lasted for just shy of 10 years, and then backed that it up with a far from convincing 26-7 victory over Italy. Nevertheless, it will have provided Cheika’s men with some much-needed momentum going into the clash at Twickenham.
There are certainly positives for Australia to take from that contest with Italy, not least so the success Samu Kerevi – whose RugbyPass Index score rose to 81 as a result – had against the Italian midfield, which is the one area where England felt defensively fragile against both South Africa and New Zealand. The quartet of Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel, Ryan Crotty and Jack Goodhue all caused England problems in the channel between 12 and 13 and it’s something Kerevi is more than capable of doing, too, especially outside of the effervescent talents of Kurtley Beale.
During that period, Ben Te’o has seen his RPI dip to 56 – the lowest mark in the England squad – and Henry Slade’s has fallen to 80, from a mark of 84 with Exeter before the international window.
For all the successes that England have had under Jones, the recent low times, the injuries and the enviable player pool he has at his disposal, the in-flux nature of the side’s midfield might be the biggest indictment of his tenure. Less than 12 months out from a RWC, it seems almost impossible to predict, barring injury, what England’s starting 12 and 13 combination will be at the tournament.
You simply cannot say the same about other genuine contenders.
If everyone is fit, Ireland will probably have Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose in the box-seat, South Africa will likely have the aforementioned de Allende and Kriel and then New Zealand look at least set with Goodhue at 13, with a little more uncertainty at 12 given Sonny Bill Williams’ injury problems.
Beale and Kerevi are a fine combination for the Wallabies, Huw Jones has cemented himself in for Scotland and Jonathan Davies has done likewise for Wales, with Hadleigh Parkes looking every bit the suitable complement inside him.
As for England, there has been constant change and a constant lack of cohesion since the successes of Farrell and Jonathan Joseph in Jones’ first season in charge. With Farrell now seemingly the favoured 10, an understandable call given that it is his best position, at least half of that combination may be off the board come the RWC, whilst Joseph continues his rehabilitation from injury and should be available for the upcoming Six Nations.
It’s difficult to underestimate how much England have missed Joseph. He grabbed the spotlight in 2016 for the audacious attacking ability he brought to a side enjoying a plethora of front-foot ball, but it was the quiet, understated defensive excellence he offered that really helped shape England into a world beater that year.
The 13 channel is as difficult an area of the rugby pitch to defend as there is, with players having to be exceptionally mobile, make quick and smart decisions and often make and complete one-on-one tackles on players that, if unsuccessful, could leave your full-back as the last defender capable of stopping the attacking movement.
Joseph excels in all of those facets and whilst Slade, Te’o and Jack Nowell have all brought plenty of positive attributes to the role, none have been able to match that defensive security that Joseph has provided.
Jones has now said that he sees Manu Tuilagi as a 13, rather than a 12, so that is potentially another option to add to the mix should he be able to stay fit, but anyone, possibly including Jones, who tell you they know what England’s midfield will look like at the RWC is lying. Both positions seem to be up for grabs now that Farrell has been moved inside to 10 and time is running out to find the right combination and build a decent level of cohesion before the side jets off to Japan next year.
In addition to meeting and overcoming the challenge of Australia this weekend, finding out more answers about his midfield will probably be very close to the top of Jones’ wishlist. Given that the next fixture in England’s calendar is a trip to Dublin to take on a surging Ireland side in the Six Nations, Jones and his side need a fillip going into what will be a testing 2019.
A performance, a result and midfield answers would be the perfect early Christmas present for England on Saturday.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Bold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 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.
61 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.
8 Go to comments