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The Ben Youngs 'good point' driving on England training this week
England prop Ellis Genge has explained why Eddie Jones’ revamped squad has gone to great lengths this week in Jersey to ensure that all 34 players are on the same page and have built up a burgeoning relationship heading into November’s three-game schedule. Tonga, Australia and South Africa are lying in wait for the English at Twickenham on successive Saturdays next month and preparations ramped up with the five-day visit to the Channel Island.
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The squad assembled by Jones is mostly a mixture of the still-in-favour players who were involved in the fifth-place Six Nations campaign earlier this year and those rookies who caught the Australian’s eye during the two-match summer series when a bus-load of newcomers were blooded.
However, there have been further changes in recent weeks. Jones called in a squad of 45 for a two-day mini-camp in London in September that featured more newcomers and even when that number was cut to 34 for this week’s latest gathering, they were still some new faces which left Genge again busy making first-time introductions.
Asked about how the altered England squad has been gelling, Genge said: “For example Tommy Freeman, I had never met him so it is a week to get involved and learn a bit more about each other. Ben Youngs made a good point at the end of training (on Thursday). He just said, ‘Boys, our intensity is brilliant but we have just got to get these little relationships firing a little bit more, to know how each other plays and operates’.
“Like I know when Ben is going to snipe and stuff but I might not know that about Harry Randall. I think I do but that is just an example. It’s trying to put those finishing touches on the relationship with the boys and we will do well.”
Ellis Genge has been spilling the beans on what is happening at England camp… and he also has a word about omitted pair Mako Vunipola and George Ford#England #AutumnNationsSeries #ENGvTON
https://t.co/D5tu4vlfow— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 28, 2021
What breaks the ice in developing these bonds? “A good coffee goes a long way,” continued Genge. “For example, I see Tommy Freeman and he is carving it up at Saints making all these eight-metre breaks but it doesn’t mean much to me. But for me to be able to sit down and chat to him, find out a little more about him, I know that he is going to go that extra mile for me when we are on the pitch because if you play with people you don’t like and don’t really give a f*** about then you are not going to work hard for them.
“So that is something we are trying to put an emphasis on this week, really trying to get to know each other in those environments where you have got to work hard because when I was on that paddleboard (England had an at-sea activity on Wednesday), I didn’t want to do but I could see the other boys grafting and I wanted to do it for them so it is just another way of skinning a cat I guess.”
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The Ellis Genge verdict on how his colourful ex-Leicester boss is doing in his first full week in England camp#England #Tigers #ENGvTON #GallagherPremhttps://t.co/yvYtD3UX4O
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 28, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments