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'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.
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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.
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“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.
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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
It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
4 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
4 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
7 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
4 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
7 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
4 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
7 Go to comments