'Every team has its (disciplinary) problems... I'm sure we'll have ours'
Eddie Jones admits that disciplinary issues are inevitable at the World Cup after taking the shock decision to overlook Ben Te’o for selection.
Rugby league convert Te’o was a surprise omission from the 31-man destined for Japan 2019 after losing out to the unheralded Piers Francis, who has been limited to five caps.
Until he was involved in a scuffle with Mike Brown during a social event at England’s warm-weather camp in Treviso a fortnight ago, Te’o was considered a certainty to travel due to his status as an ever-present under Jones.
The England coach refused to explain Te’o’s dramatic fall from grace beyond stating he simply was not good enough to make the squad, but the incident with Brown at a team bonding event has raised the topic of discipline.
The last overseas World Cup in 2011 was marred by repeated behavioural issues off the field and England’s head coach insists they are a fact of touring. “I’ve coached for 25 years, I’ve never been confident in a team being smooth,” Jones said.
Eddie Jones has named his 31-man England squad for the Rugby World Cuphttps://t.co/K41hq4OZmT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2019
“We’re like any family – everyone sits around the dining table, everyone enjoys good conversation, but you know there are problems and we’re exactly the same.
“We’ve got 31 sitting around the table, we can have nice conversations. But you know potentially there’s a problem.
“All I can do is trust the players – they are adults, they’re responsible, they want to play for England and we could have some problems. If we do, we’ll deal with them.
Eddie Jones kicks to touch on why he excluded Ben Te'o and co from England's Rugby World Cup squadhttps://t.co/oCp8UPJuiM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2019
“Every team has problems… don’t believe the book Legacy (about the All Blacks), which everyone seems to base their opinion on teams on.
“No team’s like that – every team has its problems. I’m sure we’ll have our problems and we’ll deal with it.”
Sevens specialist and 2016 Olympics silver medallist Ruaridh McConnochie continues a remarkable year by being present as the only uncapped player on the strength of an impressive end to his debut season for Bath.
Fans fear over-dependence on Billy Vunipola could cost England at World Cuphttps://t.co/afSo64APrq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2019
Flanker Lewis Ludlam has been plucked from obscurity at Northampton in another pick that would have been unthinkable as recently as May and he profits from Brad Shields’ foot injury.
Hooker Jack Singleton and scrum-half Willi Heinz made their debuts in Sunday’s rout of Wales and are also chosen. “This is a stressful, painful period. As a coach it’s probably one of my least favourite times,” Jones said.
“Telling players they haven’t made the World Cup is not a nice conversation. You’ve got players who are working hard and they are good players. But unfortunately, you just can’t pick everyone.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1BxzxYA3Bv/
“They are all painful discussions, they’re all difficult, but we have got a job to pick the best 31 to represent England. Consistently at World Cups, I pick one to 15 first, then I consistently pick 28 to 31 – they are your key, absolute keys.
“So 28 to 31, in reality, are possibly not going to have much game time, so the character and the behaviour of those guys are super important, absolutely vital. And then you try to pick a blend from 15 to 28. So there is a process that I follow.”
Since taking over in 2015, Jones has regularly pointed out that the World Cup is won by a highly experienced team, yet his decision to jettison the likes of Chris Robshaw, Danny Care and Mike Brown has given England a callow look.
📲 HIGHLIGHTS
Relive the best of the action as England kick off the #QuilterInternationals with a win against Wales 🌹 pic.twitter.com/3OPDIZQQCm
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) August 12, 2019
But the Australian hopes his players’ physicality can make up for the deficit. “I’m convinced it’s our best 31. I could have picked more experienced players but I just don’t feel they’ll give us what the younger guys will give us,” Jones said.
“The game’s changing a lot, too… it’s become such a power game. Experience is always important, but maybe we can get around it.”
– Press Association
WATCH: Owen Farrell talks to Nick Heath of RugbyPass following Monday’s RWC England squad announcement
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 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.
9 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.
36 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.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments