Love him or loathe him, Jones played the perfect hand against Australia
It is fair to say there were plenty of raised eyebrows when Eddie Jones announced his England team to play Australia, as in-form fly-half George Ford found himself relegated to the bench and Henry Slade, who had just 11 minutes of rugby under his belt since coming back from injury, was promoted to the starting XV.
It broke up England’s dual-playmaker – and dual-kicking threat – of Ford and Owen Farrell at the heart of the midfield, as Farrell moved inside to 10 and Manu Tuilagi also shuffled along the line, coming in from outside centre to inside centre. For a team that had kicked from hand more than any other side at the Rugby World Cup, the move was an interesting one.
Despite registering a morale-boosting 40-16 victory, a typically prickly Jones was still in bullish form over the selection at the post-match press conference. When asked if the ‘dropping’ of Ford was vindicated by the result and performance, Jones replied that Ford had not been benched or dropped, simply that his role had been changed for the contest and that rugby is now a 23-man game. It was a more than fair point from the Australian and though we can all debate the terminology, the performance clearly was a vindication of the coach’s decision.
Having averaged 29 kicks from hand per game in their first three games of the Rugby World Cup, they recorded just 20 against Australia in Oita on Saturday. With the Wallabies bossing possession and territory in the game, enjoying 64% and 62% respectively, England’s defensively shored up midfield had to deal with 13 carries from powerhouse Samu Kerevi and deal with him they did.
The Queensland Red had run riot through defences throughout the pool stage, however against England he was marshalled. He had gain-line success and did break a number of tackles, though not with the proclivity that he revelled in against other teams earlier in the competition. Both Farrell and Tuilagi held up well to his physicality and frequently one of the Mordor Two, Sam Underhill or Tom Curry, was on hand to help.
Curry and Underhill. pic.twitter.com/n4FpExQqzJ
— Max Lahiff (@LahiffMax) October 19, 2019
In fact, where Australia had more joy was with Jordan Petaia at outside centre, with the 19-year-old regularly able to find space outside of Slade and punish any sort of disconnect in England’s defensive line. He was contained then at the second level of the defence and for the most part, Jones’ move to bolster the inside of his midfield defensively was richly rewarded on Saturday.
When Ford arrived in the second half for Slade, and England reverted to their previously seen combination of Ford-Farrell-Tuilagi, the Leicester Tigers playmaker was able to bring some extra control and find space in the backfield with his cultured boot. Soak up pressure, nullify the dangerman and then exploit a tired team. Jones’ plan worked to perfection.
The other two selections which were under the microscope were those of Mako Vunipola, who was returning from injury, and Courtney Lawes, who was replacing George Kruis, a man whose chemistry with Maro Itoje and Jamie George is beyond question at this point.
After coming under pressure at the first couple of scrums, Vunipola rebounded and repaid all faith that Jones had in him. The set-piece then evened out – before England took control later in the game – and the loosehead put in an incredible shift in the loose, particularly when you take into account the lack of top-level rugby he has had in recent months. He combined with Underhill to make a game-high 20 tackles, although his impact went beyond that figure, with a number of dominant tackles and precise clear-outs that provided England with quick and clean ball.
Similarly, Lawes excelled on the defensive side of the ball as Australia dominated possession, particularly in the first half. The Northampton Saints lock delivered a masterclass of tackling on a number of Australia’s power carriers, stopping them dead in their tracks. He was also efficient in his technique, frequently leading the defensive line and going low and chopping down Wallabies, rather than risk missing or being penalised on a higher hit.
Neither Lawes nor Vunipola had the attacking influence that both players are capable of, but they did the job that was asked of them with aplomb. They took the life out of the legs of the Australian pack and their energy, along with that of the flank pairing and Itoje, was perfectly suited to chasing down and containing the eager-to-run Wallabies.
Australian rugby's day just got bleaker as Japan overtakes them in the World Rugby rankings.??#gomenasai #ENGvAUS #RSAvJPN #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/2sV9vnYcUg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 19, 2019
And then we come to that flank pairing. It may not have been a selection which was questioned, such have been their performances alongside one another over the last couple of months, but this game was a huge test for Curry and Underhill, as they went up against two of the very best flankers in the world in Michael Hooper and David Pocock, players who have become masters of their craft.
Impossible to completely contain, Pocock had one or two moments of fetching brilliance, though the physicality and mobility that England’s flanks brought was impressive throughout their time on the pitch. They were part of that all-energy English defensive performance in the first 50 minutes that nullified Australia, as well as interspersing their tackling and contact area work with a couple of moments of class, such as Curry’s draw and give for Jonny May’s first try and Underhill’s athletic aerial take when under pressure from multiple gold-cladded jumpers.
Whether you love him or loathe him, there’s no denying that Jones got his tactics and approach to the game with the Wallabies spot on. His selections countered Australia’s strengths and though it was far from the most ‘flashy’ of English attacking performances, it was ruthlessly clinical, the one thing which you could have argued England were missing in their admittedly one-sided wins over Tonga, USA and Argentina.
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Watch: Eddie Jones and Owen Farrell face the press in Oita after qualifying for the semi-finals
A new challenge looms on the horizon, though, and it is one which looks to be a perilous one.
As good as England’s performance against Australia was, the All Blacks blew it out of the water with their 46-14 dismantling of Ireland. It was not an outing befitting of Joe Schmidt’s last game in charge of the northern hemisphere side, as Ireland struggled to generate any sort of continuity in possession, but it was also a masterclass all-round performance from New Zealand.
The question now is what aces, if any, does Jones have up his sleeve for the unique challenge that New Zealand will pose? They will undoubtedly go hard at England early, just as Australia did, but they are unlikely to punch themselves out in the same fashion. If England opt to try and weather that early storm, rather than attempting to force their own style of play on the game, they risk giving the All Blacks an unassailable lead. New Zealand will, almost without a shadow of doubt, prove to be more clinical in attack than Australia were.
Consider those bridges burned Michael. #RWC2019 https://t.co/LKL3fQswQZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2019
Jones could return to his combination of Ben Youngs, Ford and Farrell and attempt to control field position and make sure that if the All Blacks are going to get over the try line, they’ll have to go that bit further to get there. It also returns Tuilagi to perhaps his most potent offensive position on the pitch at outside centre, a man that New Zealand are very wary of and will pay particular attention to.
Or he can continue as he did against Australia, with that threat of Ford – and the subsequent change in style – available off the bench if needed. He may not pack quite the punch that Kerevi does, but Anton Lienert-Brown is no lightweight carrier in that 12 channel and Farrell and Tuilagi have shown their value as a defensive pairing. If that combination is retained, Jonathan Joseph offers an intriguing variable, with his lateral mobility and defensive nous welcome in the 13 jersey, a position where Petaia exploited England on a number of occasions.
Regardless, these are the decisions that make or break coaches and although the All Blacks represent arguably the best team in world rugby at the moment, this is a scenario that Jones would have bitten your hand off for had it been offered to him prior to the Rugby World Cup. It’s the biggest game that Jones has coached since the 2003 Rugby World Cup final and the biggest England have been involved in since the 2007 final.
Whatever happens on Saturday in Yokohama, Jones will want to ensure his team come off the pitch not wondering about what could have been and confident that they fired all the shots they possibly could have.
Joe Cokanasiga in the 23, anyone?
Watch: Michael Cheika and Michael Hooper face the press after Australia’s quarter-final loss to England
Comments on RugbyPass
Karl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
8 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
8 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to comments