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James Haskell has launched a vigorous defence of England head coach Eddie Jones and his decision to stick with Tom Curry at No8 heading into the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
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Haskell was the subject of much media debate when Jones picked him at No7 to face Scotland in 2016 – with Chris Robshaw moving to blindside flanker and Billy Vunipola at No8.
England won 15-9 and went on to give Jones a first Grand Slam – something that is impossible this season after Sunday’s 24-17 loss to France in Paris.
With Vunipola out with a broken arm, Jones switched flanker Curry to No8 rather than choose Harlequins’ in-form Alex Dombrandt. To cover for Curry, he put Northampton lock Courtney Lawes into the blindside role which he previously filled at club and Test level.
With England failing to get over the gain line against a Shaun Edwards-organised French defence, there were immediate calls for Dombrandt or another ball carrying No8 to be drafted into the squad.
(Continue reading below…)
Eddie Jones and Owen Farrell after England’s 24-17 loss to France
Jones has refused to be swayed by media or public opinion, though, and Haskell was not surprised given the debate over that trip to Murrayfield four years ago.
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He told RugbyPass: “In the week preceding that game with Scotland, Eddie called me up and said he wanted me to play No7, hit people and carry hard and didn’t want me to do much around the breakdown. The squad was announced and everyone was saying ‘he’s not a seven’ even though I had played there a lot for Wasps and Stade Francais.
“I went to Eddie and said what do you think about what everyone is saying and he was like, ‘Mate, you know what I want you to do go and do it. Don’t worry about the press’. It is clear he prefers a balance in the back row rather than what people perceive as those roles.
Looks like Eddie Jones is sticking to his guns on this one.https://t.co/I86Z4ePsPU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2020
“That is the evolution of the back row. Sam Underhill and Tom Curry are good over the ball and destructive tacklers, and then you have Courtney Lawes who is a really important ball carrier and big tackler – and all three the back row positions are underpinned by great tackling.
“There is a nice balance to that back row and the issue is the fact that Eddie left out Dombrandt who everyone wants to see in the squad because he is a massive unit at No8 and playing out of his skin.
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“That is causing a difference of opinion but remember when David Pocock played No8 for the Wallabies with Michael Hooper at No7 and Scott Fardy at No6 it was a case of them wanting to get those players on the pitch.
There have been few worse 40-minute displays from England under Jones than the opening half against France, according to @alexshawsport https://t.co/FPldUryXVX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 3, 2020
“Everything Eddie does gets my support because I have seen the bloke work at first hand, how calculating he is and he understands what he is doing.
“Tom Curry and Sam Underhill were probably two of the stand out players at the World Cup and they showed maturity beyond their years, and Courtney has been one of the standout locks and unlucky not to get more game time and Eddie has gone for a balanced back row.
“The issue against France wasn’t the make-up of the back row but the fact you were getting big men receiving the ball standing still against a blitz defence.”
Clutching at straws… or a genuine reason to be cheerful? https://t.co/XbLGLy5nWf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 4, 2020
Haskell, who won 77 England caps and played across all of the back row during his career, expects to see significant improvement from England at Murrayfield on Saturday where they face a Scotland team that gained a losing bonus point against Ireland in Dublin and showed significant signs of improvement from the World Cup.
He added: “Eddie said the team forgot how to play rugby against France and it did look like that, but they are so much better than how they performed in Paris. If they play as they train they will be in a great place.
“Even if they had Billy Vunipola in Paris, getting the ball standing still you would not get over the gain line against that type of defence. Rugby is about momentum in attack and defence and England will be coming back strong this week for Scotland.”
WATCH: Catch up on all the highlights from round four of the Japanese Top League
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
6 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
6 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments