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The 78 per cent Test stat that has England aiming for a fast start
Eddie Jones has placed his faith in Harry Randall quickening the England tempo from the kick-off on Saturday in the hope that the rookie’s presence can help them score what the coach believes will be the crucial first try. The three-cap 24-year-old half-back was chosen to start against Wales in the Guinness Six Nations rather than Ben Youngs, who equalled his country’s all-time caps record of 114 when he appeared off the bench in the round two win over Italy.
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England managed just a single try, a 53rd-minute score from Marcus Smith 35 minutes after Scotland scored their lone try, when Youngs played the full 80 minutes of their round one defeat at Murrayfield.
With Randall starting at Stadio Olimpico in round two, Jones’ England side had the four-try bonus point bagged as early as the 45th minute versus Italy and the difference which scoring early made helped convince the head coach not to flip back his scrum-half selection and to instead stick with the inexperienced Bristol half-back as his starter rather than the seasoned centurion from Leicester.
“You generally find if you can get some good quality ball early the defence isn’t as quickly set and also they haven’t found out how the referee is going to slow the ball down, so you tend to get some quicker ball,” explained Jones about why he has stuck by Randall ahead of Youngs in a team that now doesn’t have the originally selected Manu Tuilagi available to play.
“The first 20 minutes of a match is always the quickest. I think the stat is that 78 per cent of the teams that score the first try win the Test, so it is really important for us to get a fast start on Saturday. Now obviously Wales will be trying to do the same thing. We have to get out of the blocks quickly… that’s our aim.
“We don’t have an exact measure for it but the general rule is if you can get it under three seconds you are doing well,” continued Jones, referencing the quick ruck ball speed he desires for England. “Some of the ball now is down to two seconds. Harry is lighter, faster and can get to the ball quicker in the early part of the game than when the game is more of an even pace. That is not say Ben can’t do it – we just believe that Harry will give us something a little bit different at the start of the game.”
Until it was confirmed on Thursday that Randall was the starting scrum-half, Saturday had been built up as a truly special day for Youngs. It still will – he will surely come off the bench to earn his record-breaking 115th cap. But it can’t have been easy to accept a place amongst the replacements when you have for so long been the number one England No9.
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“Look, everyone is disappointed who is not starting. We had 35 players in camp and I had to make 20 one-on-one conversations with guys who aren’t happy and he [Youngs] is one of them. He is not happy about it.
“He wants to start, he wants to start every game as the other 34 blokes do but they have got to understand for each game there is a role to play and you have got to accept that role. That is part of the deal of being in the national squad, that you accept the role the coach gives to you and then you get on with it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
3 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
3 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
3 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
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