Ford and Tuilagi switches show Eddie's hand ahead of All Blacks
As England and Eddie Jones prepare for the challenge of New Zealand in Yokohama this Saturday, they have made just one change to the starting XV that comfortably dismantled Australia in the quarter-finals.
George Ford has resumed his role as England’s starting fly-half, with Owen Farrell and Manu Tuilagi shuffled further out in the backline and Henry Slade moving to the bench. It’s just one small change but it has big repercussions on the way that England are likely to play and their approach to countering the considerable threat of the All Blacks.
The return to the Ford-Farrell-Tuilagi midfield axis is one which leans to a more offensive-oriented game plan, rather than approach against Australia which was to counter the threat of Samu Kerevi on the inside, put up an unbreachable wall of line-speed and allow the Wallabies to punch themselves out. It was a tactic which worked to perfection for Jones and England.
The All Blacks, though, are a very different beast and even if England’s defence is energetic, fast, physical and makes the right decisions, New Zealand will manufacture enough chances to cross the whitewash and hurt England. Jones’ charges will have to meet fire with fire and make their own attacking statement against the reigning world champions.
On the reintroduction of Ford to the starting XV, Jones avoided talking too much about the attacking impact the playmaker would have, though.
“Every game we have a look at the conditions, the opposition, what we think we need to do, what we need to take away from the opposition, and this is the best fit for us. Horses for courses. We just feel it’s the right combination this week.
“Work-rate is going to be important. Whenever you play against New Zealand your work off the ball is going to be massively important. They like to move the ball around, they are very good on transition and George’s work-rate off the ball has been absolutely exceptional.”
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Watch: The Barrett brothers face the press ahead of the Rugby World Cup semi-final
Despite Jones’ reluctance to talk about the attacking versatility that Ford will bring England, it’s hard to ignore as a factor in his promotion to the starting XV and the knock-on effects that will have on the rest of the English back line.
Tuilagi’s move to 13, unarguably his most effective attacking position, plays into that goal. Whilst the perception and focus around Tuilagi seems to revolve around his ability to run through and over defenders, his best asset may be his stop-start acceleration and speed to beat defenders on the outside, often whilst also throwing a trademark fend in the process. At outside centre, he gets the space to showcase this more regularly than he does at inside centre.
Ford in ???? Slade out
Barrett in ????Cane out#RugbyWorldCup #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/QA4BcVfPmO— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 24, 2019
Yes, his physical presence outside of first receiver is lost, though England have become much more comfortable using players like Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola and the Kamikaze Twins, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, in this role. It is a selection which prioritises attacking in the wider channels, rather than keeping a game tighter.
England have previously shown a comfort switching Farrell and Tuilagi in this line-up, too, which will put an emphasis on New Zealand tracking when and where Tuilagi will appear in the back line. That will help England in their attempt to create space and numerical advantages for the back three of Jonny May, Anthony Watson and Elliot Daly to exploit.
It’s not something that New Zealand will be unprepared for, however, with Steve Hansen having highlighted the possibility of it when he announced his own team earlier in the day.
. @EnglandRugby have three non-negotiables if they are to beat the All Blacks on Saturday
– writes @alexshawsport ??? #rwc https://t.co/4kv2QCDbHE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 23, 2019
“Eddie might make some changes. He’s pretty shrewd. We have seen plenty of the George Ford and Farrell combo and also the Farrell-Tuilagi combo. You prepare for both scenarios and try to deal with it as best you can.”
It is not something, though, that the All Blacks got a look at first-hand in 2018 when they played at Twickenham, when Jones went with a midfield of Farrell, Ben Te’o and Henry Slade. In fact, only Sinckler, May, Daly, Underhill, Maro Itoje and Ben Youngs from the starting XV that day join Farrell in starting again against the All Blacks, with a number of relatively new faces for New Zealand to have to contend with.
Where New Zealand have bulked up in their back row, England have continued with a more mobile unit involving Curry and Underhill. Where New Zealand have leant heavily on formidable scrummaging front rows, England have been building their game around the more influential in the loose props they have at their disposal. In a way, both teams have spent the last cycle moving away from some of their traditional strengths and bolstering the other areas of their games.
The All Blacks may be favourites, but this has all the hallmarks of a titanic tussle and a clash for the ages in Yokohama on Saturday.
Watch: Steve Hansen speaks to the press ahead of New Zealand’s semi-final with England
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
81 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
3 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
3 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
3 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason 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.
2 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…
5 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 comments