The most picked England XV of the Eddie Jones' era
With Eddie Jones signing a new contract with England this week to keep him at the helm until the 2023 Rugby World Cup, there has been a lot of reflection over his past four years in charge.
The Daily Mail’s Will Kelleher has provided a succinct summary on Twitter of some of the key stats of Jones’ reign, particularly in terms of the players he has selected, and the XV most players most picked in each position:
EDDIE’S MOST PICKED XV
15 Brown (24 starts)
14 Watson (19)
13 Joseph (25)
12 Farrell (23)
11 May (33)
10 Ford (41)
9 Youngs (39)
1 M Vunipola (24)
2 Hartley (28)
3 Cole (28)
4 Launchbury (24)
5 Kruis (25)
6 Robshaw (18)
7 Underhill (14)
8 B Vunipola (29)
It is worth noting that this list does not necessarily mean these were Jones’ most picked players. After all, Jamie George, Courtney Lawes, Elliot Daly and Maro Itoje were all one of Jones’ top eight most capped players under him.
However, their positional versatility (Daly across the back three, and Itoje and Lawes at blindside flanker as well as No.4 and No.5) means they did not start solidly in the same position, or in George’s case, he was often used from the bench. Kelleher also provided information on the most capped players:
Who're his favs?
TOP 10 MOST CAPS UNDER EDDIE (54 TESTS)
George Ford – 52
Owen Farrell – 48
Ben Youngs – 47
Jamie George – 46
Courtney Lawes – 43
Elliot Daly – 43
Dan Cole- 39
Maro Itoje – 38
Jonny May – 37
Joe Launchbury – 37#statcave7/n
— Will Kelleher (@willgkelleher) April 2, 2020
Nevertheless, this XV still helps unearth the strength of this England team, as well as some flaws. The first thing that is most noticeable is that many of these players played in the RWC final last year. Eight players started in the final, while George Kruis and Dan Cole both came off the bench.
Additionally, Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Joseph both were in the RWC squad in Japan. Given his time spent on the sidelines, Manu Tuilagi would not make this list, but is undeniably a vital cog in Jones’ team.
The three members of this XV that did not travel to Japan were Mike Brown, Chris Robshaw and Dylan Hartley, who are the eldest members of this squad. All three have served Jones well throughout his tenure, particularly in creating a bridge between the Stuart Lancaster era before, but the tournament may have been a step too far. Furthermore, Hartley would have been at the RWC if it was not for his injury woes.
Adding the likes of Daly, Itoje, Lawes and George to that XV shows that the Australian was building towards something during the four-year cycle and it was no fluke that they came so close to winning. The coach faced some criticism at times, but he had an outline of what he wanted his team to look like, and this XV shows he stuck to it. While there were still selection debates leading up to the final, it was amongst players that Jones had already embedded into the squad.
Kelleher’s XV also illuminates some of England’s weaknesses over the past four years, and indeed much longer. The lack of a natural openside has plagued England for years, and the inability to outgun the opposition at the breakdown was one of the major contributors to England’s annus horribilis in 2018. It is perhaps no surprise that the least capped player in this XV is Sam Underhill at No.7. The Bath man looks to be the incumbent openside in white now, but this team tells a tale of the journey Jones has been on to find someone suited to the role, although Tom Curry is a viable option as well.
This XV provided by Kelleher also highlights another problem that Jones has encountered, which is the over-reliance on Billy Vunipola. It may surprise some that a player who only played four Tests during 2017 and 2018 because of a slew of injuries still started the most matches for England in the forwards. This of course does not mean he was the most capped player in the pack, as we have already seen, but it does show that when he is available, it is more than likely that he will start.
That in itself is not necessarily a problem because he is arguably England’s most important player, and fundamental to gaining any momentum; it is no coincidence that Vunipola barely played during England’s troublesome 2018. What this stat does show is that England were never able to find a suitable replacement for him to allow Jones to rotate.
Nathan Hughes vied with the Saracen for the No.8 shirt, but ultimately fell off the pace and it culminated in Jones only taking Billy as the specialist No.8 to Japan.
This same problem has reared its head this year in Vunipola’s absence during the Six Nations, where Curry has been deployed at the back of the scrum. He grew into the role as the Championship developed, but one of England’s main criticisms was this lack of penetration that Vunipola is so often trusted to provide.
Conversely, this team also shows the abundance of locks that Jones has at his disposal, especially as the two in Kelleher’s team, Kruis and Launchbury, did not actually win more caps than Itoje and Lawes over four years. This is also one of the most compelling reasons as to why Jones, alongside Matt Proudfoot, is opting for a 6-2 split on the bench.
Ultimately, this squad shows that Jones did not simply stumble into the RWC final, and while he may still not know what his best XV is, he has a pool of experienced players to choose from.
Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..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.
9 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.
5 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.
22 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
4 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments