Last chance saloon for England's fringe players - Andy Goode
Despite Eddie Jones acknowledging that his mind is made up about his squad, the selection of a largely second string team for Wales on Sunday has to be seen as one final shot for fringe players.
And, those fringe players have remarkably few caps between them. This starting XV have just 377 caps between them and three players are responsible for over half of those.
The Australian has gone on record before saying that you need a boat load of caps to win a World Cup but he’s jettisoned a lot of players with a lot of international experience and there are as many as five players making their debuts in this game.
Piers Francis only has four caps as well and he has been picked ahead of Ben Te’o, who has been in every squad when fit in the past few years, although it still wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see the former rugby league man named in the squad on Monday.
I’m all for giving players opportunities on merit and there are certain experienced players that have fallen by the wayside through no fault of the head coach but there does seem to have been a late change of tack as well.
Injuries to the likes of Dylan Hartley and James Haskell are one thing but Chris Robshaw exited stage left just a year ago, Danny Care hasn’t managed to force his way back in since the autumn and now other players with caps into double figures are being cut even closer to the tournament.
Eddie has always said judge him on the World Cup and that is what people will do but this wasn’t all part of the plan. Of course, people come and go in World Cup cycles but it all seems to be happening for England towards the back end of it.
In terms of the team selection this weekend, there’s no doubt he’s giving all of the fringe players an opportunity but, in reality, he knows his squad already and there is only one place up for grabs. Two at most.
There are only four players starting tomorrow who would be in the first XV if it was the World Cup final, whereas Wales have gone full noise and picked their strongest team.
The Welsh haven’t lost for 18 months as well and are looking for a 15thconsecutive Test victory so, despite home advantage and the Twickenham factor, there is no doubt they are huge favourites.
It’d be a big achievement for this understrength England side to win against the team that is the number one in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment and could be number one in the world come Monday morning.
It might be a masterstroke by Eddie because a narrow defeat could certainly be passed off as a success given the respective team sheets and a win would be a major statement.
He spent so long playing with two sixes in the back row that it’ll be fascinating to see how Tom Curry and Sam Underhill dovetail as a pair of opensides. Mark Wilson is surely nailed on to start at blindside at the World Cup but David Pocock and Michael Hooper have shown how effective having two fetchers can be and it could give England a new option.
And, after Dan Robson didn’t get much of a chance and Ben Spencer was only given a handful of minutes, it’ll be interesting to see how Willi Heinz gets on at scrum half. He may be the oldest England starter on debut for 36 years and many will say he’s picked the wrong Gloucester halfback but he’s been named vice captain and Jones clearly sees leadership in him.
It’s also brilliant to see Anthony Watson back in an England shirt because he was outstanding before his Achilles injury and will offer competition for Elliot Daly at full back as well as being a top class winger.
More often than not in the past in World Cup warm-up matches the home side has picked a first team and the visitors have sent a second string but that has been turned on its head in this one.
Wales broke English hearts at Twickenham in the last World Cup but they’ve only won three of their last 19 Tests against England there in the last few decades. This could make it four in the last 20 and the margin might be 10 points looking at the teams.
Second-guessing Eddie Jones is an impossible task but, despite him saying his mind is made up, this selection has all the hallmarks of a last chance saloon for a few fringe players to scrap it out for the final place or two in the squad. All will be revealed at 1pm on Monday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Very unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments