Growing campaign for Genge to start in place of the absent Vunipola
Eddie Jones is having to rethink his front row ahead of this Sunday’s fixture against Ireland after loosehead prop Mako Vunipola pulled out for personal reasons.
The Saracens prop flew to Tonga for family reasons, a development that resulted in Bath’s Ben Obano being called into the squad ahead of the round three Guinness Six Nations encounter.
Jones will be in quandary as to who he will replace Vunipola with given the events of the championship so far. Joe Marler started at loosehead against France in the opening game of the tournament but was not part of the matchday 23 against Scotland upon Vunipola’s return.
Meanwhile, Ellis Genge started on the bench in both Tests and has done some damage in his cameos. Excluding his year out of Test rugby, Marler has frequently been used by Jones as the backup to the Saracens prop, but the impact that 25-year-old Genge has had on the team in the closing stages of the matches against France and Scotland is hard to ignore.
The Leicester Tigers prop made an instant impression against France, clattering into Romain Ntamack and providing his trademark strength with ball in hand against a robust defence. A week later, he scored the only try of the match against Scotland.
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After his display at Murrayfield, there were calls for Genge to start the next Test, particularly in an England team that seem light of ball carriers. Now, in Vunipola’s absence, it has only helped his selection cause even more.
Ellis Genge is amazing. I’d say he should start next week, but frankly he’s much better as an impact player. Mobile, fast, strong, great carrier, great scrummager; he’s got it all. Surely he’s got to be at least ahead of Marler in the pecking order now. https://t.co/2q9GSgECUp
— Dr. Ypsilon (@Yxllop) February 9, 2020
Genge has to start… love the runs he makes, love his energy… very dynamic prop… all good!
— Paul Calver (@PMCalver) February 9, 2020
Harlequins’ Marler did nothing wrong against France and is an ever-dependable presence in the front row for England.
He is a strong scrummager and may potentially have the edge over Genge in that department, but he does not make as much of a footprint on the game in the loose as his team-mate does.
That is why Genge is proving to be a popular option to start against Ireland, something that should allow England get the full benefit of ‘Baby Rhino’ for the best part of an hour.
Genge and Sinckler to start for me https://t.co/X1dj42rD7z
— mikey savage (@mikey_sav123) February 18, 2020
Genge, Youngs, Ford, Tuilagi and May all retained by England
No Mako Vunipola which means Genge should start#tigersfamily https://t.co/4OsUFyAdMQ
— Harry Morgan (@HMorganJourno) February 18, 2020
Big big loss.. genge comes in..
— Stephen king (@Stephen91314828) February 18, 2020
Genge starting and Obano off the bench is something I would really love to see, explosive power replaces explosive power… all most makes up for having no Number 8 ???? https://t.co/ilVny8xjBo
— Will Roberts (@WillRobrtsRugby) February 18, 2020
It is hard to truly replicate Vunipola, as the 29-year-old’s distribution and subtle hands mark him out as one of the best props in the world. But Genge equally brings brute force which is matched by very few.
Of course, Genge’s style suits that of an impact sub, a responsibility he has handled with great aplomb so far this Championship. Conversely, Marler would struggle to make the same kind of impact from the bench, although that has often been his role under Jones behind Vunipola.
This will, therefore, be a hard decision for Jones to decide upon, as Obano will also be in contention as an equally explosive option from the bench amid the growing campaign for Genge to start.
WATCH: The Rugby Pod looks ahead to the third round fixtures in the Guinness Six Nations
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry 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.
3 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
3 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 comments