Steady Eddie's evolution has England back on course - Andy Goode
It may be just two wins in the Six Nations but the last fortnight has shown Eddie Jones has learned from his mistakes in 2018 and that is a major factor behind England being talked about as World Cup contenders once more.
They won’t be getting carried away inside the camp and others shouldn’t either as, of course, things could take a turn for the worse again if a run of defeats ensues but Eddie has clearly changed the way he does things and the manner of the performances against Ireland and France prove that.
He’ll never admit to changing but it’s clear for all to see. His whole demeanour has changed, although a large part of that is obviously the positive effect of winning games again. He’s not throwing hand grenades out in the press and looks a lot calmer and more measured.
He has started the mind games with Warren Gatland early by saying that England are going to be facing the best Welsh team ever in Cardiff next weekend but they have just equalled their best ever winning streak and I don’t mind that.
It’s worlds apart from some of his comments during last year’s Six Nations or when he referred to Wales as a “little, shit place”.
A team is a reflection of its coach and we saw with Ben Youngs walking off in the middle of an interview with Sky during the summer that his behaviour did rub off on his players. Things change quickly in sport and that seems like a long time ago now.
It’s too simplistic to suggest that England now look like a very good team again just because Billy and Mako Vunipola and Manu Tuilagi have all played together for the first time but there’s no doubt that it’s been a major influence.
He has a full squad to choose from in general really, apart from Maro Itoje after his injury against Ireland and now Mako. We shouldn’t forget, though, that Ben Te’o would have almost certainly been selected in Dublin if he had have been fully fit so there’s been a bit of luck involved too in stumbling across certain combinations.
It was the same with Mark Wilson in the autumn. He was England’s player of the autumn internationals and has started the Six Nations on fire but he wouldn’t have got a game if it wasn’t for injuries to the likes of Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Sam Simmonds and others.
Again, Eddie won’t admit that but everyone knows it. You need a bit of luck like that, though, and he can take it and move forwards.
I’ve spoken a lot about his training methods in the past and he’s definitely learned in that respect as the word coming out of the England camp now is that they aren’t being beasted in training like they were last year. There hasn’t been a major injury at an England training session for a while now either after there were a whole host over the course of the past couple of years.
And, he’s also learned that he needs to be less autocratic with John Mitchell appointed in September and Scott Wisemantel, who came in on a temporary basis in the summer, given the job on a more permanent basis recently too.
He was trying to do the job almost all on his own during last year’s Six Nations, especially with regard to England’s attack, and it probably didn’t help in South Africa that we knew Paul Gustard was leaving for Harlequins.
Mitchell and Wisemantel both deserve a lot of credit. Mitchell is a hothead, let’s make no bones about it, but I actually think his presence has helped to calm Eddie Jones down.
Owen Farrell being the captain on his own and being responsible for steering the ship in his own way has helped enormously as well. He’s in a position where he can truly challenge the head coach in a way that Dylan Hartley perhaps couldn’t because nobody is doubting his place in the team.
Hartley will be back in the squad as soon as he’s full recovered from his injury, which I’ve heard might take a bit longer than it was initially expected to, and I’m not denigrating his leadership skills at all but he’s the third choice hooker for me at the moment.
France helped England out quite a bit by picking two centres on the wings and a winger at full back, as well as bringing in Mathieu Bastareaud to play opposite the more mobile Henry Slade, but they got it spot on tactically again on Sunday.
That has to be a combination of good coaching and preparation in the build-up and excellent recognition of what was in front of them by the players on the day but they exploited the acres of space in behind the French backline time and again and most of the tries came from kicks.
It won’t be like that every game for this England team but it does look like they have the tools to play in different ways now and adapt to what the opposition is doing.
Ultimately, you want to win every game but England have come through injury crises, adversity and a period of very poor results and they look like they’ve come out the other side having learned from their mistakes and become a better team.
I don’t buy the theory that last year was all part of a masterplan for England to be in the best place possible come the World Cup – 2018 was everything you shouldn’t do as an international coach but they’re back in the winning habit and momentum is massive in World Cup years.
It’ll sound like I’m an arrogant Englishmen but if we go to Cardiff and win, then the Grand Slam’s ours with home games against Italy and Scotland to come. And, the Wales game is even more pivotal than a Grand Slam decider as well.
It’s England’s one acid test before the World Cup. There are now seven games left until they kick off their tournament but the four warm-up games will be used to try different things, so Cardiff takes on huge significance and you get the feeling they wish they didn’t have to wait until next weekend.
Whatever job you do in life you have to learn from your mistakes and it’s no different as the England Head Coach. If you carry on doing the same things, you’ll carry on getting the same results. Eddie has turned over a new leaf and long may it continue.
Comments on RugbyPass
Billy's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to comments