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How England's Jamie George and the Irishman skippering English cricket became drinking buddies
They’re an unlikely drinking couple, the cricket-playing Dubliner and the rugby union-mad Londoner. But Eoin Morgan and Jamie George seemingly get on like two peas in a pod.
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The Irishman is somehow a Saracens fan, cheering along with the best of them whenever he can get to a game at Allianz Park. And the roles are easily reversed whenever the England hooker has managed to get along to whatever the action is at Lord’s.
When they next catch up, there will be quite the success to toast. Three weeks on from the mesmerising conclusion to the 2019 Cricket World Cup, George is thrilled his pal managed to manoeuvre England over the line in a final that was extraordinarily gripping.
So much so that even Eddie Jones, the English rugby boss from Australia, felt obliged to delay a rugby meeting in Bristol so that his squad could see if their fellow countrymen – a team humiliated at their previous World Cup – could achieve world final glory.
From chumps to champs is the epic rags to riches transformation the rugby fraternity will now hope to similarly replicate at their own sport’s global jamboree later this year in Japan, four years after they were embarrassingly eliminated after just three matches when hosting their own World Cup in 2015.
“We watched it all together as a group,” enthused George about the cricket after returning to England following a 12-day warm-weather camp in Italy ahead of next weekend’s first-of-four World Cup warm-up matches.
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“We were in Bristol at the time. We were lucky that Eddie is a cricket fan so he pushed a meeting back as it went into the Super Over. I don’t know if jealous is the word. I’m quite lucky that I know a couple of the guys involved in the team and I was just so, so happy for them.
“What that England cricket team has done over the last four years has been incredible and there were a lot of parallels between us and them… I spoke to a few of their guys about it before. We have been through very similar challenges.
🌇 RISING SONS: Episode 4
The journey to Japan continues as Eddie puts the squad through their paces at a training camp in Treviso 👊 #WearTheRose 🌹 @O2Sports pic.twitter.com/EM4dE99LKE
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 30, 2019
“To see them come out the other side and be crowned world champions is fully deserved and I’m very proud of them doing that,” he explained, revealing his friendship with English skipper Morgan who exhibited nerves of organisational steel in that dramatic finale at Lord’s.
“I know Eoin Morgan through Saracens and Jason Roy through my mate Sam Billings. You can see the parallels in how they had some pretty disappointing campaigns, some tough losses. Very much like us.
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“There are not direct parallels in terms of the way the game is played but in the team culture and the rest of it, that’s something Eoin Morgan is very keen on talking about so I have chatted about that with him before.
“He is a very impressive bloke and I have learnt a huge amount from him in terms of what he has done with the England cricket team.
“He is a Sarries fan, so I have met him quite a few times through Saracens. I know him through that and I was at Lord’s watching him play, sent him a text and he was around for a beer afterwards,” he continued, adding that the ear of injured county cricketer Billings has also been useful with the countdown on towards Japan.
“I spoke to him quite a lot when he first got injured. It was the first time that he had been injured really so he asked me my opinion on how to go about it physically and mentally.
The Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards are this evening and we @carterandgeorge have been nominated for FOUR awards! So proud of @physiorhys and the team! @HertsChamber pic.twitter.com/ZqO83vh7nL
— Jamie George (@J_George2) June 13, 2019
“I had not done my shoulder like he had but I had definitely spoken to him. He is looking close to a return so looking forward to that. He is (a patient at the Carter & George Practice physiotherapy clinic)… funnily enough, he has got a shirt on the wall.”
Whether anyone will be looking to put an England Rugby RWC 2019 shirt on a wall somewhere depends on how whether they prosper in the far east. It’s a tall order given some of the worrying frailties exposed during a Six Nations campaign where they were beaten by Wales and pegged back for an incredible draw at home to Scotland.
The air has since been cleared, though, George admitting that the novelty of this lengthy pre-season for country rather than club has afforded ample opportunity to better set the mood among the squad.
“We are together for a long time and togetherness is something Eddie highlighted from the Six Nations as something we needed to work on clearly,” revealed the hooker first capped during the run-in to the 2015 World Cup.
“It is something that is definitely tighter now that we were during the Six Nations. We are having some really good conversations about how to get better and we are also just getting to know each other a bit better.
“That has put us in good stead. Hopefully when the pressure comes on as a group we will be tighter and it will make it easier to get through those times,” he said, adding that the return of fellow front row Joe Marler, who has come out of Test retirement for the tournament, has added to the positive vibe.
Loving my second chance. It’s all in the facials 🌹 @EnglandRugby pic.twitter.com/mrpf8o0Pz0
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) July 13, 2019
“Whenever Joe Marler’s around, it’s always extremely entertaining. He’s been amazing. It seems a long time since he left. A lot has happened. He’s a joker off the field but he’s a calm head on it and he has a huge amount of experience.
“He adds to the group off the field and on the field. He keeps things nice and calm and adding some key points around the new scrummaging laws. He’s been vital around that.
“My first cap in the pre-World Cup games last time around seems a long time ago. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved in English rugby. There’s a huge excitement and belief amongst the group that we can really do something special. I can’t wait to get going with the games.
“Whenever England play Wales it is going to have an edge to it. At the end of the day it is a Test match, playing them home and away and they are both amazing opportunities to put our best foot forward and potentially right a few wrongs from that game in the Six Nations,” adding that the humid Japanese-like conditions experienced in Italy in recent week were ideal preparation for his lineout throwing at the finals.
“It is difficult. The ball does get extremely slippery and it’s a different type of challenge. We didn’t use too many towels so we didn’t get too much opportunity to dry the balls. It’s a tough challenge but one that you have got to get your head around.”
With Saracens winning all before them last season, completing their second European Champions Cup and English Premiership title double in four seasons, George added that the club’s Test level contingent have been sounded out by England boss Jones.
Nine Saracens included in England's latest camp🌹
➡ https://t.co/yRWNCHKOAq https://t.co/2vCnDlEu1M
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) July 22, 2019
“It’s a different environment. Eddie’s always looking to pick up bits from everyone. I’m lucky that I play for a relatively successful club and Eddie tries to pick out brains but, at the same time, it’s a different environment.
“We’re trying to create something similar but our own type of culture, guys at Saracens are giving their opinions on how they think things should be run but it’s a leadership group of guys from all different clubs.”
WATCH: Jim Hamilton visits Jamie George at his home in St Albans in this edition of the RugbyPass Rugby Pads series
Comments on RugbyPass
Lions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to comments