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'Is Eddie trying too hard?' - Jones' England tactics panned after Paris loss
Eddie Jones’ England may have gone down fighting in Paris, but the tactics on show in Saint-Denis haven’t won the Australian any reprieve from the criticism he’s been receiving of late.
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England fell to a 25 – 13 at the Stade de France. Despite plenty of resilience from England, their tactics at times appeared to garbled to the casual observer.
England have once again seemed to have run out of ideas in attack – at least any good ones – instead opting to become a kick-heavy team, one that now struggles to cross the whitewash.
Pre-game, many had predicted that England would boot the leather off the ball – and they didn’t disappoint. Flyhalf Marcus Smith repetitively kicking to the out of position Freddie Steward on the wing became a leitmotif for England throughout the ill-fated Six Nations decider in Paris.
Moreover, there’s a sense among many pundits that Jones is trying to be too clever with his tactics.
“Is Eddie trying too hard to be the cleverest guy and ‘innovative’ all the time? So many extra people are in and around camp. What’s the value? I don’t see much,” wrote Mike Brown in his Mail on Sunday column. “The only tactic seemed to kick and hope Steward could get it back!”
“There were also some bizarre calls like cross-kicking to Jamie George on the wing. What is the point in that other than if the player is totally unmarked? Jamie is a great player, but he’s one of the smallest on the field and not good in the air. It wasn’t a good percentage decision.”
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Brown wasn’t the only one perplexed by England’s tactics.
Journalist Chris Jones questioned the wisdom in using prop Ellis Genge to run the ball back from deep like some sort of 117kg NFL punt returner. “So instead of picking Dombrandt to run those kicks back EJ gets England Rugby’s best scrummager Genge to run himself into the ground. Seems a waste of energy that could be better used.”
So instead of picking Dombrandt to run those kicks back EJ gets @EnglandRugby best scrummager Genge to run himself into the ground. Seems a waste of energy that could be better used @FranceRugby
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) March 19, 2022
“Do you reckon Eddie Jones has said every time we get into or near France’s 22m we must kick it?!” Andy Goode observed wryly.
Do you reckon Eddie Jones has said every time we get into or near France’s 22m we must kick it?!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) March 19, 2022
Commentator and journalist Nick Heath questioned Jones’ use of the bench, or lack thereof. “Eddie Jones in microcosm there. Youngs out on his feet, kept out there, loses concentration and Dupont benefits. Youngs only then replaced with Randall. Stuart Lancaster dreamt of being ahead of the global curve on rugby strategy. Jones is behind the curve on an 80 minute game.”
Eddie Jones in microcosm there. Youngs out on his feet, kept out there, loses concentration and Dupont benefits.
Youngs only then replaced with Randall.
Stuart Lancaster dreamt of being ahead of the global curve on rugby strategy. Jones is behind the curve on an 80 minute game.
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) March 19, 2022
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Writing in The Rugby Paper, Jeremy Guscott said England’s attack had not evolved under attack coach Martin Gleeson. “England have not threatened enough in attack over the course of the tournament, and it raises important questions.”
Fans were getting in on the action, with one irate Tweeter branding Jones’ approach as ‘pathetic’. “England’s tactics here are frankly pathetic. Pick a big guy on the wing and just boot it up in the air. Then stick the big prop at the back and get him to run straight back in a straight line.
No wonder they barely score any tries.”
https://twitter.com/gordonp93/status/1505280519038193664
Jones has now called for patience as he looks ahead to the World Cup next year. The question is has the RFU’s run out.
Comments on RugbyPass
Nika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
8 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
88 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
2 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
88 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
88 Go to commentsYep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. As there are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic in Ireland. There has not really had a strong representation for any global sport over the years, and hence arrogance is not endemic to Irish people in this regard. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. If it was said, it would have been said in jest and to pay Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
88 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
4 Go to comments