No need to rush Itoje back - a six-point manifesto for calling up 6'5, 128kg U20s star Kpoku
Despite a largely successful Guinness Six Nations so far, one area in which England have seemed to have had no luck has been with their locks.
Maro Itoje turned in a highly-impressive performance in Dublin before injury ruled him out of the contests with France and Wales, whilst Courtney Lawes stepped up to the plate in fine fashion, filling the Itoje void in those two matches, before injury also struck him down.
Eddie Jones and his side now go into a two-week preparation for the visit of Italy to Twickenham, with Lawes certainly ruled out and Itoje in a race against time to be fit.
It’s far from the end of the world, with the second row one of the areas where England can take a couple of injuries and still field top class international-level players, something that may well be shown against the Azzurri, where Jones could turn to Joe Launchbury to partner George Kruis. That’s a pretty good combination to be relying on after losing two players as impactful as Itoje and Lawes.
There is already talk that Itoje may be back for the fixture, with England defence coach John Mitchell having refused to rule him out ahead of the Wales game, but there should be no urgency from England to usher him back into the matchday 23 if there is even the slightest doubt about his fitness. This is a Rugby World Cup year, after all.
Factor in that Itoje is likely to have a busy end to the domestic season, with Saracens almost certain to be involved in the Gallagher Premiership playoffs and more than capable of making a deep run in the European knockouts. Throw into the mix that half the games he’ll play in those club fixtures will be on the slightly less forgiving rubber crumb of Allianz Park and you have a compelling case for managing his workload.
Of course, if Itoje is 100% fit, his selection is a no-brainer. He provides so much impact at the set-piece, in the loose and at the contact area, whilst also being one of the field generals on the pitch. What, though, will England learn from involving him against Italy? Unless they decided spontaneously to see how he’d shoulder the burden of captaincy, there’s probably nothing to learn from the fixture on him that is worth risking re-aggravating an injury or even just adding to what will be an intensely demanding workload for him in 2019.
The answer could be to call up 19-year-old lock Joel Kpoku.
Calling up a teenager in a Rugby World Cup year might sound like madness, but bear with us as we explain the reasoning with our six-point manifesto.
Continue reading below…
Watch: Eddie Jones and Owen Farrell speak to the media after England’s 21-13 loss in Cardiff
Succession
England have four established second row options in Itoje, Lawes, Kruis and Launchbury. That’s not going to change between now and the team jetting off to Japan later this year. It’s cruel on the likes of Ed Slater and Dave Attwood, who are having very strong seasons, but given their age profiles, they are unlikely to challenge that quartet from the 2019/20 season onwards. Kpoku, alongside the likes of Nick Isiekwe and Charlie Ewels, are more likely to do so.
Opportunity
Itoje’s international welcome came just before the Rugby World Cup in 2015, when he played in the Saxons’ 18-9 win over the Irish Wolfhounds. With the Saxons now effectively defunct, Kpoku won’t have that same opportunity. Italy have shown they are not to be taken lightly, but this is the kind of match where he could offer an option off the bench and there should still – with all due respect to Italy – be the quality and experience in the England squad to cope with the expectations and win the match.
Pathway
The responsibility of the U20s – and the whole pathway – is not to win games and World Rugby Championships, it’s to identify top-end talent and get them used to an international environment, preparing them to be contributors at the senior level. That pathway should always be looking to test players, to make them more resilient, more confident and better equipped to deal with the challenges they will face as professional players. For some, that means fast-tracking, and it certainly hasn’t hurt the careers of Isiekwe, Tom Curry and Ted Hill to date. Kpoku is one of the players who is relatively comfortable at the U20 level and whilst that is not to say he isn’t pushing himself as hard as possible, it’s just that he could be pushed even more effectively in a different and more challenging environment.
Carrying
One of the problems for England last season was that they lacked potent carrying threats in their pack. This year has seen a marked improvement in that area, but with Itoje, Lawes and Mako Vunipola all sidelined, that’s three of the most adept ball-handlers and gain-line-breakers out of the picture. It puts a heavy strain on Curry and Billy Vunipola and adding another player capable, already, of being able to have similar success with ball in hand at the senior level, would not hurt England. You need to be confident to keep toting the rock, to borrow a phrase from the NFL, and to use your handling skills in pressure environments, so building his confidence at the next level will be key. A pre-Rugby World Cup outing, just as Itoje got in 2015, could be key to providing that.
Physicality and conditioning
Kpoku is a big man. He was living with and replicating the physicality of the likes of Demba Bamba last season in the U20s and this year he has shown that again, as well as demonstrating it at the senior level in the opportunities he has been given by Saracens. Bamba, Marcos Kremer, Rieko Ioane and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, England aren’t the only nation who has felt comfortable blooding the physically-remarkable players early. There is a lot of talk of “test match animals” and certain players not having the physical ability to be able to replicate what they do at club level in the international game, but it’s probably not a critique you can throw Kpoku’s way.
Experience
What is to be lost by at least calling him up for the next two weeks of training? If Itoje’s comeback from injury goes to plan, he’s 100% fit and Jones decides to bring him back in for the test against Italy, Kpoku will only have gained from being in the camp during that time. He was called into the preseason training camp, getting a taste of what it’s like, but to spend time involved in the midst of the Six Nations, training against the senior Georgian pack – who are joining England in their Oxford training camp – could prove immeasurably valuable. The intensity of this training camp and the presence of opponents, rather than teammates, is likely to make it as gruelling as any under Jones.
No one is suggesting Kpoku will be on the plane to Japan come September, but the second row really is one position where England can still afford to be thinking about succession so close to the tournament, whilst still taking a cohesive and talent-rich group of players to the Rugby World Cup.
Kruis is locked in at Saracens until 2021 and Itoje has committed until 2022, but both Launchbury and Lawes go into contract years in 2020. You could not begrudge either of them the potentially higher earnings in France or a more lucrative £-to-game arrangement in Japan, so whilst England’s depth of locks is in fine shape at the moment, that is not a guaranteed situation beyond 2020. Finding contributors for the 2023 and 2027 Rugby World Cups is something to put on the to do list, even if it is not the most urgent of priorities.
Similarly, no-one could begrudge the likes of Slater or Attwood a call-up for this game, with both meriting it based on their form this season. As a pair, they would both have many more caps if it were not for the current quartet having transitioned to international rugby so well over the last couple of cycles.
The tough question to answer is does giving either of them a game against Italy offer enough short-term benefit in terms of an identification of England’s 5th lock on the depth chart, to outstrip the benefit Kpoku’s inclusion would provide long-term in England’s bid to maintain consistent success at the top of the international game?
Answering questions like that are why Jones gets paid the big bucks.
Watch: Warren Gatland and Alun Wyn Jones speak to the press after beating England
Comments on RugbyPass
This looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery 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 comments