The four changes England need to make ahead of this weekend – Andy Goode
One defeat away from home against a team that raises their game for that match above all others doesn’t make England a bad team but it did highlight a few areas of weakness that have been a concern for a while and the time has come for a few personnel changes.
What I think Eddie Jones should do and what I think he will do are two completely different things and I believe he’ll have a short term approach to the game this weekend and pick a team with the sole focus of beating France because we’re still in the tournament after all.
However, he has spoken from the very start about reaching number one in the world and winning a World Cup. Are we going to win a World Cup playing the way we are at the moment? I don’t think so and that means you have to look at making changes to work out how we can beat the All Blacks.
If the England players and coaches are being honest, they would say that they haven’t played well since they thrashed Scotland at Twickenham a year ago. For me, there are a few players who are hanging on in there and leaning on the credit they have in the bank from Jones’ first couple of years in charge.
As a coach, you have got to look to evolve all the time and if you don’t try different things now, when are you going to?
You’re picking Dylan Hartley as a leader but there was no leadership at all in that England side against Scotland, so now is as good a time as there’s ever going to be to make a couple of changes and roll the dice a bit.
Jamie George has been the form hooker in the country for a long time now and he was good enough to start for the British and Irish Lions, so I would start him and I think you’ve got a ready made captain in Owen Farrell waiting to step up and replace him.
I’d move him to fly half as well and pick Ben Te’o at inside centre. I think he deserves a run in the side now and the France game is the perfect time to start that run so that he can help to combat Mathieu Bastareaud as well.
I don’t see there being as many changes as I’d be inclined to make but I do think those alterations to the midfield might happen because we got opened up there a couple of times against Scotland and Jones has spoken about the physicality of the French in that department.
In my opinion, it’s time for Mike Brown to make way and for Anthony Watson to start at full back with Elliot Daly and Jonny May on the wings now that Jack Nowell is out injured but Eddie Jones has been pretty forthright when speaking about Brown recently and might just favour the solidity he brings for this game specifically in Paris.
Sam Underhill would surely have started at openside had it not been for his untimely injury, so the temptation will be to continue with Chris Robshaw there or even bring in James Haskell but he hasn’t played for two months.
Robshaw’s standout feature is his work rate but you need more than that at the very top level. He made a lot of carries and tackles against Scotland but it wasn’t effective work. He puts his hand up time after time but you know what you’re going to get from him and I think, after the complete pasting we took at the breakdown last time out, it’s time to be bold.
Even without Underhill as an option, I would leave Robshaw out and go for Sam Simmonds at number seven with Nathan Hughes continuing at the base of the scrum now that he’s had another couple of weeks of training under his belt.
Eddie Jones has said he expects it to be a “slogathon” but I think that might be something of an attempt to hoodwink the French and he’ll come out and play attacking rugby.
You have got to match France physically but the way to beat them is to move them around and play at a pace that they can’t live with. Jones will know that and I think the selections I’ve outlined give England the best chance of playing that fast, attacking style that will win them the game.
The team hasn’t changed or evolved much over the last couple of years and I think we’ve plateaued. We’ve been getting wins but the Scotland game has highlighted that we’re not quite riding the crest of the wave that we were a year ago and some tweaks are necessary.
I’m certainly not advocating chucking the baby out with the bath water because 24 wins from 26 games under this regime is still a hell of a record but it’s clear that some change is needed and I expect that to start this weekend.
My England XV to face France on Saturday
15 Anthony Watson
14 Elliot Daly
13 Jonathan Joseph
12 Ben Te’o
11 Jonny May
10 Owen Farrell
9 Danny Care
1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Courtney Lawes
7 Sam Simmonds
8 Nathan Hughes
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments