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England scrum coach Matt Proudfoot has reflected on where the out-of-favour Mako Vunipola now stands in the Test squad pecking order after another Autumn Nations Series matchweek selection unfolded with the Saracens loosehead nowhere to be seen even though Ellis Genge and Joe Marler are both still in isolation after they contracted Covid-19 last week.
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Genge, the starter at No1 versus Tonga in the series opener, will still be in isolation by the time of next Saturday’s November finale against the Springboks while Marler, a sub in that victory over the Pacific islanders, will only be able to start training with the squad again at this Friday’s captain’s run.
The virus outbreak, which initially affected just Marler, left England relying on calling in the uncapped Bevan Rodd in midweek last week and he was chosen on the bench on Thursday to face the Wallabies. However, that situation quickly altered with Genge ruled out on Friday morning and it resulted in Rodd making his debut as the starter against Australia with the bench cover provided by the one-cap Trevor Davison.
The scrum survived this inexperience and rather than send an SOS call to the ousted Vunipola ahead of the match-up versus the Springboks, England boss Eddie Jones has opted to stick with Rodd and Davison in training for most of the week and the pair will be joined on Friday by the isolation-free Marler.
The situation suggests that the Test career of the soon-to-be 31-year-old Vunipola is likely over given that the virus outbreak at loosehead didn’t get him back in the England November mix, but Proudfoot isn’t writing off the 2019 World Cup final starter completely just yet.
The knives are out for Rassie ahead of the Springboks' clash with England. #ENGvRSA https://t.co/T29kJcNHSp
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2021
“He is an incredible player and we think long and hard before we make selections,” explained Proudfoot, who was part of the Springboks staff for that final two years ago before switching to England. “Mako is right there. What Mako needs is to play, to play regularly, to put some performances back together which I think he has. So he is right in the pecking order. We think very long and hard about it and as we all know selection is Eddie’s prerogative.
“We give our advice to Eddie, we give our opinions to Eddie, we give evidence to Eddie and then he sits and makes the best decision that is right for the team and that is the most important thing is that selection is what is right for the team.”
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Will Marler feature in the matchday 23 despite his lack of training? “That is a decision Eddie will make late in the week depending on where we feel the squad is. Joe, it’s not just the value he adds on the field, it’s what he adds off the field. The front row has been in contact, we have been working together as a front row with Joe involved, giving guys advice.
“Ellis has been giving advice. We try to keep it as tight as possible in the front row and there is a lot of knowledge to be passed on. What advice I give and what advice a player gives that is just reinforcing it, so the players have been really open to that which has been good.”
With hooker Jamie George now also unavailable through injury following his starts against Tonga and Australia, the three-cap Jamie Blamire, a try-scorer off the bench against the Wallabies, is potentially set to start against the Springboks alongside Rodd and tighthead Kyle Sinckler.
“It’s significant losing any senior player. I feel really gutted for Jamie,” said Proudfoot about England losing George for the final match of the series. “He has worked incredibly hard, has played really well in the two games he has been in, so I feel for him. It creates an opportunity for a young guy and that energy is what we have been harnessing this week in training. The young guys are really looking forward to the opportunity. I suppose what you lose you gain in a different capacity.
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“They have been fantastic. Jamie has really taken his opportunity, he plays to his strengths, is a really good defensive, attacking playing. He has played really well when getting an opportunity late in games and making an impact and that is exactly what we wanted.
“I thought Bevan was exceptional last week, first game, came in, make a great impact. To take on a player [James Slipper] who had 112 Test caps and not to be daunted by it and to accept the challenge that was the thing I was really pleased about. We had a couple of good days training with him and he will only benefit from the more time he has in camp.”
TEAM NEWS: Jacques Nienaber's XV contains 10 starters from the World Cup final win over England 24 months ago…#Springboks #ENGvRSA #AutumnNationsSeries
https://t.co/EEKuBncHSl— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
24 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments