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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Ben Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
220 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
16 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
220 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
220 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
46 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
16 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
46 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
220 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
220 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
46 Go to comments