How 'loved' Ellis Genge tactic ultimately left sour England taste
It was quite an eye-catching statistic, prop forward Ellis Genge emerging as the England player that made the most metres away to France other than Marcus Smith during last Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations defeat. The loosehead recorded 110 metres from his ten carries, a number that only out-half Smith eclipsed with his 154 metres from a dozen carries.
Midfielder Joe Marchant, with 106 from nine carries, was third-best overall on the list of the 22 England players who played in Paris while the next-best forward was Sam Simmonds with 70 metres from 14 carries. The numbers for the forwards then level off, with tighthead Will Stuart the next-best carrier with 37 metres from seven carries.
Both Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode were enthused on this week’s edition of The Rugby Pod to see Genge show up in the backline running the ball back at the French, but that enthusiasm was tempered by the realisation that it highlighted how limited the England tactics were that they had to rely on a prop to run the ball back. There was also the issue that it sapped the front row’s energy when it came to his bread and butter of doing a job at the scrum.
Hamilton kick-started the reflection on the show about the 25-13 Stade de France defeat, claiming he enjoyed the action he saw on TV from France before flying home from Ireland following the Triple Crown game versus Scotland.
“That was a hell of a Test match and looking at it from my point of view at the airport in Dublin, it looked like the French had a couple of more gears. They never look like losing and that was the most impressive thing. England, I thought the game plan was great, I thought they were good… I thought they played well. Did you not?”
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Goode didn’t agree. “Not until we are 18-6 down, no. They [France] should have carved us open. Had it not been a Grand Slam game and a bit of anxiousness around some of the passes… we could have been 20-odd points down at half-time… I thought 25-13, I am looking at it going in reality I reckon that is a 40 points to 13 game had France taken their opportunities.
“Eddie Jones’ tactics I think are really clueless. You have got players that are ripping it up in the Premiership in a certain way for their clubs. Stick them in an England shirt and it’s all about kicking. I have never seen Marcus Smith kick so much in all my life. Tactically I disagree with you, Jim. I thought we were inept at times.”
This teed it up for Hamilton to come back in and steer the conversation to the England role played by Genge. “I am looking at it from that point of view where I thought the tactics, in my mind, were how I would have gone about it. Anyway, I was a forward, I enjoyed the game, I enjoyed the physicality. I thought Gengey was exceptional.
“I loved the way how they used him in the backline. But you know what, that shows me the worry with England, the fact that you have got to use your loosehead prop. I know you play to your strengths but the fact was that there was no one else in that backline who could do what Gengey was doing in terms of carrying.”
Goode didn’t agree that Genge was the only England forward capable of putting up a gallop. “I disagree with that. I loved the fact that they used Gengey back there but we used him all the time, so imagine your loosehead prop running it back and he made more metres than any other England player and then you ask him to go and scrum against the biggest tighthead in the world [Uini Atonio] and then we got a penalty given away at scrum time. Our scrum was under pressure.
“Whereas I liked Gengey doing that, Sam Simmonds, look what Shaun Edwards said about him the other day, he is like a running back in the NFL so why didn’t they have Sam Simmonds back there as well, interchange him with Ellis Genge? Sam Simmonds is a devastating ball runner back.
“You are not going to run straight at someone and Gengey, all he was going to do was get the ball and run back at someone and he is going to get tackled. He is going to win the gain line. I saw Paul Willemse try to monster him, he’ll bounce one and someone else will take him down.
“I thought it was great that he was back there for one or two occasions but you have sapped the complete energy out of him to do anything else. And this is the thing, you have got Sam Simmonds, you have got (Alex) Dombrandt…”
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to comments