Picking an England XV to provide answers to some long-standing questions against Japan
Having relieved the pressure with the win over the Springboks and earned validation for their testing 2018 in the box office encounter with the All Blacks, England and Eddie Jones now turn their attention towards Japan.
The visit of Jones’ former side to Twickenham marks a first for the Cherry Blossoms, who have only previously met England once, in Sydney at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. The score that day was 60-7 to England and though Japan are a much-improved side since the inaugural RWC, there will be similar expectations on England to dominate the contest both on the pitch and on the scoreboard.
Without disrespecting Japan or their ability to cause the best sides in the world problems on their day, England boast resources and a player pool that Japan can only dream of at this point in their rugby development and, as such, it provides England with an opportunity.
The games against South Africa, New Zealand and the final contest of the month against Australia were always going to be the games that England judged their progress by this year, not to mention their readiness for the upcoming RWC. England don’t need to relieve pressure or seek validation against Japan, what they really need are answers.
Answers to questions which have thus far gone unanswered during Jones’ tenure.
The Australian cannot afford to make wholesale changes to his team, as he will be keen to maintain the chemistry and cohesion the side have been building before the visit of his countrymen on November 24th, but equally, he cannot, or rather should not, send the same side out against Japan. If there was one fatal flaw to England’s successful 2016, it was that their depth was not developed, and the same players were consistently selected. It made for short-term success and long-term growing pains.
The visit of Japan offers Jones the opportunity to try out some new combinations, without ripping up the entire script, and still target an impressive performance and a confidence-boosting result.
Up front, Ben Moon and Kyle Sinckler showed real promise as a pairing against New Zealand, but the lack of accuracy in the England lineout once Dylan Hartley departed the pitch will have been a major concern for Steve Borthwick, England’s forwards coach. A start for George against Japan gives him the chance to put the second half horror show against the All Blacks behind him, not to mention put down a marker as to why he should be considered a starter moving forward.
Depending on how much Jones is willing to change, Courtney Lawes and Charlie Ewels could be brought into the XV for an opportunity, but a desire to maintain a core to his side ahead of the Australia game could see Maro Itoje and George Kruis retained. Their retention would also be beneficial to George, who will have two familiar targets at the lineout.
With Tom Curry sidelined, the game presents another chance to see Sam Underhill prove his worth in the seven jersey after an exemplary showing against New Zealand, whilst both Brad Shields and Mark Wilson seem to be growing into the England jersey. Pairing one of that duo with Underhill on the flanks would see England continue to grow chemistry and experience in a back row bereft of both Billy Vunipola and Chris Robshaw.
This creates an opening for Zach Mercer at number eight, after his impressive cameo from the bench against South Africa. Given Vunipola’s injury-riddled couple of years, finding a genuine alternative at the position should be a key priority for Jones. Wilson has coped admirably with the expectations in his two games there, but he hasn’t provided the same ability to get over the gain-line that Vunipola does.
Mercer is not a like-for-like replacement for Vunipola, but he finds ways to get over the gain-line, despite lacking the bulk to match Vunipola’s direct approach. Whether it’s shifting the point of contact, using his underrated fend or timing his runs so that he rarely ever takes the ball static, the Bath back rower gets the sides he plays in moving forward. Throw in his potential as a lineout jumper and a contributor at the breakdown and he is a player Jones could be well-served by knowing better ahead of the RWC.
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Watch: Eddie Jones reacts to England’s narrow loss to New Zealand.
Ben Youngs has been in superb form over the opening two weeks of the November internationals and Owen Farrell is being entrusted with the keys to the back line, so continue with the pairing and keep them on the same page ahead of Australia. Consistency at the half-back pairing is also going to help a new midfield combination fit into their roles.
It’s not been the smoothest ride for Ben Te’o and Henry Slade over the past two weeks, though with noticeable moments of promise, and this could be an opportunity for Alex Lozowski and Manu Tuilagi to lay down the gauntlet to the pair, as well as to Jonathan Joseph, who should be back in the mix by the time the Six Nations rolls around.
Lozowski has now completed his four-week ban from the Heineken Champions Cup and Tuilagi, who was not quite at 100% ahead of the All Blacks test, should be fully fit. Both players have been in fine form at club level and clearly have skill sets that could offer a lot at international level. They bring impressive lateral mobility in the defensive line and an ability to straighten play as ball-carriers, whilst primarily looking for the space between defenders.
In order to keep some consistency in the spine of the team, it makes sense to retain Daly at 15. He looked significantly more comfortable with his positioning and contesting the aerial balls against New Zealand, despite the torrential conditions at Twickenham, than he did the in the series opener against South Africa. With Daly playing 13 more often than not for Wasps at the moment, any opportunity to keep him in the 15 jersey is key for England’s hopes for him at the position, particularly with Anthony Watson out injured.
As for the wings, another game back in the saddle for Chris Ashton would help his reintegration into the team after an impressive return against New Zealand. Jonny May has been in scintillating form and one of England’s most consistent performers of late, so this should not be considered a critique of him, but a debut for Joe Cokanasiga is too tempting to pass up.
May could and should return against Australia, but Cokanasiga offers a physical presence and eagerness to keep phases alive that just doesn’t exist in England’s other current wing options. Finding out how he goes at international level and how he gels with the other players in the senior set-up is exactly what a game like Saturday’s can offer to England moving forward.
This would bring five fresh players into the XV and whilst that wouldn’t be without its risks to continuity, all five have been involved either in the matchday 23 over the last two weeks, or in the larger training squad.
If England can emerge from Saturday’s contest with a convincing win and more answers than questions about George, Mercer, Lozowski, Tuilagi and Cokanasiga, then their Test with Japan will have been a complete success.
Suggested XV: Ben Moon, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Mark Wilson, Sam Underhill, Zach Mercer; Ben Youngs, Owen Farrell; Joe Cokanasiga, Alex Lozowski, Manu Tuilagi, Chris Ashton, Elliot Daly.
Watch: Highlights of England’s game against New Zealand.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments