Itoje and Tuilagi rise to fore in England's bid for RWC success
Any time a team puts 57 points on an opponent, there is going to be cause for optimism.
When those 57 points come against a team that is usually as disciplined, well-coached and competitive as Ireland are, that optimism is only going to be magnified.
Any feelings of discontent that might have followed England’s loss to Wales last week in Cardiff were quickly washed away on Saturday, as Eddie Jones’ side cruised to an at times stunning 57-15 victory over, on paper, a particularly strong Ireland side.
In fairness to Ireland, many of their players were playing their first Rugby World Cup warm-up game of the summer, with significant rotation in the opener against Italy. That said, the same was true of a number of England’s starting XV. Despite having played back-to-back fixtures with Wales, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Sam Underhill and Jonny May were all starting for the first time this summer.
As off the pace and out of sorts as Ireland looked, England were equally powerful, ruthless and disciplined, the last of which has not always been the case when these two teams have met in recent years.
On the subject of discipline, that improvement was no more evident than it was in the performance of Maro Itoje, with everything that England were able to do – and do well up front – seemingly revolved around him.
There was a period in Itoje’s still young career when the lock began to earn the ire of referees, particularly at the lineout. Whether it was the 24-year-old testing boundaries and working out what he could get away with or simply being too enthusiastic in getting his hands on the opponent and trying to disrupt throw, he had begun to become a semi-regular source of penalties.
A short blip or a worrying trend? The former, it would seem.
On Saturday, Itoje was imperious on both sides of the lineout. After Ireland had disrupted the first two English throws of the game, the first of which saw George Kruis ripped at the maul and the second he was hounded into a flapped and batted pass, George went to Itoje on five-straight throws, with the younger Saracens lock providing a watertight platform for his side.
On the defensive side of the ball, Itoje was able to get to four of Ireland’s lineouts, two of which led to turnovers in possession, whilst the other two left Ireland with scrappy and muddied possession. It was the kind of wrecking ball performance on Ireland’s lineout that Peter O’Mahony so regularly provides Joe Schmidt’s side with.
It was the effectiveness and cleanliness – Itoje went unpenalized over the 80 minutes – of this performance at the lineout that allowed England’s experiment with the combination of Tom Curry and Underhill on the flanks to succeed. Curry was successfully targeted on one throw in the second half, with the game already well and truly won, but neither he, Underhill nor Billy Vunipola are proven international lineout options. With Itoje ruling the skies at Twickenham, England were able to prosper in different areas of the pitch with their back row trio.
The flank duo’s mobility certainly showed up well, as the pair frequently led England’s kick chase alongside the likes of Itoje and May, with Underhill impressing with his ability to hunt down and make first-up tackles on Ireland’s back three players. Underhill delivered some of the best chop tackling England have seen since Joe Worsley, whilst Curry was able to prosper as a ball-carrier. Vunipola was, understandably, his usual self. Nothing to do with lineout work and/or flanker combinations is going to change his role in the side.
Crucially, though, the pack’s mobility, which had been lacking in Cardiff, was on full display at Twickenham and the potential negatives of that back row combination were entirely mitigated by the performance of Itoje. It was primarily the lock’s lineout work that did so, although his ball carrying, efforts at the contact area and defensive line speed all contributed significantly, too.
Ohhhhhhhh @maroitoje ?
Watch live now on @SkySports Main Event. #ENGvIRE #CarryThemHome pic.twitter.com/QheS4KJTVf
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) August 24, 2019
If Itoje’s work up front in the pack and the development of his game allowed England’s forwards to excel in their respective roles around him, then exactly the same can be said of Manu Tuilagi in the back line.
The Leicester Tiger has flashed his ability at inside centre over the last 12 months, but in his return to the 13 jersey on Saturday, he provided a potent reminder as to his potential in that position. His domineering performance at outside centre against the All Blacks in 2012 is still pored over by broadcasters.
It had looked as though his international future lay on the inside thanks to the form of Henry Slade and Jonathan Joseph in recent seasons, although the showing on Saturday – and what it meant for the players around him – may have raised some questions in Jones’ mind.
Purely as a solitary carrying option, Tuilagi had joy against the Irish defence. Whether it was the initial power of his carrying breaking the tackle, or his leg drives to make extra metres and tie in multiple defenders, Tuilagi was a constant thorn in the side of the visitors. As a result, Ireland were forced to commit men to stopping him.
As soon as the Irish defence keyed in on stopping Tuilagi in his tracks, everything else was opened up for the England back line. Whether it was his decoy line that created the space for Joe Cokanasiga’s early try or his powerful carry which swallowed up Irish defenders and allowed Elliot Daly to be released on the right wing, good things consistently happened when Tuilagi was on or even just near the ball.
George Ford’s play on the gain-line was made to look all the more effective with a threat as potent as Tuilagi waiting for the flat, delayed passes from England’s playmaker. In the second half, when Farrell stepped into first receiver more frequently, Tuilagi was again the willing option on his outside. Despite that 10-12 combination having been mothballed for a year, they looked like they had never been away as they connected with and floated around the powerful outside centre.
The 28-year-old wasn’t just a hammer, either, linking play with some deft touches and provided width when Ireland’s defence bit in and stayed too narrow, as they keyed in on Tuilagi’s more direct threat.
Of course, more potent challenges await England than the one Ireland posed on Saturday. It should be stressed, again, that this was an Ireland side playing well below their potential. As impressive as Itoje was at the lineout, Ireland were loose and profligate, the exact same of which can be said of their defence in general, much of which Tuilagi was able to exploit.
You can only play the opposition in front of you, though, and Itoje and Tuilagi did that superbly. If they can replicate that moving forward, they give Jones enviable freedom over what he wants to do with his back row and midfield combinations.
.@ManuTuilagi goes over for his 14th England try.
Watch live now on @SkySports Main Event.#ENGvIRE #CarryThemHome pic.twitter.com/CoaLxWfn02
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) August 24, 2019
Vunipola and Farrell have long been lauded as England’s two most vital players, whom everything else is built around, but if the win over Ireland showed anything, it was that Itoje and Tuilagi could be the crucial factors in England’s bid for success in Japan.
If Itoje’s game remains as disciplined and efficient as it looked on Saturday and Tuilagi can stay as fit and busy as he was, then England’s Rugby World Cup ambitions will be given a strong shot in the arm.
Jones’ side doesn’t lack for alternative options at lock or in the centres, but they don’t have any that can match the skill sets that these two men provide.
Watch: Eddie Jones and Owen Farrell talk to the press after their win over Ireland
Comments on RugbyPass
Like tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
14 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
14 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
14 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
14 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
14 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
14 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
14 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to comments