'Look at the example of Daniel Carter. He was at his best at 35' - Jones expecting slow introduction for new England fly-half Jacob Umaga
Eddie Jones has compared the development of a fly-half to a sushi chef as he urges England prospect Jacob Umaga to accelerate his own apprenticeship. Umaga is set to make his debut off the bench in Saturday’s Six Nations match against Italy as cover for Owen Farrell after George Ford was ruled out of the visit to Rome by an Achilles injury.
The 22-year-old nephew of New Zealand great Tana, Umaga has shone during Wasps’ advance into the Gallagher Premiership final where he finished a brilliantly-taken try against Exeter. It was not enough to prevent a 19-13 defeat at Twickenham but for England boss Jones, it reinforced his appreciation for the attacking intuition of Umaga.
“Number 10s are like sushi chefs. As a sushi chef you’ve got a lifetime’s ambition to be good,” Jones said. “It generally takes you about 10 years before you can start making sushi. Number 10s are the same. “Umaga’s at the start of the apprenticeship and he might graduate very quickly and be able to make sushi at the corner stall and then he might be able to make sushi at a five-star restaurant.
“Look at the example of Daniel Carter. He was at his best at 35, the complete package: calm, takes field goals when they need them, kicks to the corner. And then when there’s a line break he’s in on it. That’s the difficulty of that position.”
Umaga has been elevated into the 36-man England squad ahead of Joe Simmonds, the Exeter captain who has been hugely influential in the Chiefs’ European and Premiership double. “I like the way Umaga attacks the line. He reads the game well. The good rugby players are starting to come through, the guys who have a real good feel about the game,” Jones said.
The wonderful @steeno10 was a very eloquent guest on the latest episode of @TheRugbyPod ?https://t.co/publPKHU2C
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 27, 2020
“You can’t sit back and wait for things to evolve, you’ve got to be able to go quickly. To do that you need a 10 who’s very instinctive. You can’t coach them to do it, they just do it. You saw that when he scored that try (against Exeter). They got a couple of quick rucks and he just hits the line flat, through the hole, runs the holes, beats the full-back, scores.
“They’re the things you can’t coach and they’re the things you’re always looking for in players. It’s probably more pronounced now because of the way the game’s going. You’ve got this arm-wrestle type around the ruck where there’s 80 per cent of the game.
“Then it’s one pass and to break that defence down you need really instinctive players that can take the opportunity. We can’t coach them what to take because we don’t know how the defence is going to be. They’ve got to have the ability to take that. That’s why I like Umaga.”
Farrell has not played since being banned for five weeks for a dangerous tackle on Wasps’ teenager Charlie Atkinson, but Jones has no concern over his readiness. “The one thing Owen will be is captain, whether he plays at 10, 12 or 13 – I am not sure. That is all to be decided this week,” Jones said.
“He is the most professional player I have seen. He is dedicated to his profession and works hard. I don’t know how many times Jonny Wilkinson has been in to do kicking with him. He is a guy that has this unbelievable desire to win. He wants to play for England, he wants to be the best captain we have had and he wants to be the best 10 we have had, or best 12. Wherever he gets selected, he doesn’t mind.”
That's just over 8 per cent of the squad for the double winners then…https://t.co/FoJxupDUId
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 26, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Crusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
1 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
2 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
11 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
11 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
11 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
11 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to comments