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The bits of Kruis, Lawes and Read that Jones is looking for in his rookie England locks
With England working with a rookie squad in recent weeks for their summer series, how they manage the huge shortfall in experience in vital areas such as second row should make for an intriguing watch in the coming weeks as Eddie Jones and co negotiate a schedule that starts with Sunday’s A team match versus Scotland A before the July Test games at Twickenham versus the USA and Canada.
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A team containing eleven uncapped players has been chosen to start in the A fixture opener and the combination at second row pairs Charlie Ewels (21 caps) with Harry Wells (uncapped), with the repositioned back-rower Ted Hill (one cap) providing cover from the bench.
It’s a far cry from the dominant duo of Maro Itoje and George Kruis firing England to the World Cup final in 2019, but the criteria Jones has for this area of his team is relentless. “The Test lock position is a pretty demanding position at the moment,” he said on Thursday.
“You have got to be able to win the lineout like a George Kruis, defend like a Courtney Lawes as a back row and carry like a Kieran Read at No8 and that is what we are looking for. Now generally most locks don’t have all those sorts of things but they have got to have one of those areas where they are exceptional and we are looking for locks who have exceptional ability in one of those areas.”
Asked by RugbyPass on Friday about the three players England A are depending on this weekend at second row, John Mitchell said: “Charlie is a very good caller of lineouts. He comes with the experience of leading a lineout. Harry is a very hard-working, gritty, physical lock who enjoys the defensive parts of lineout as well as the attacking bit but he also gets around the field and does all the hard cleans and is dependable in defence.
TEAM NEWS:
England unleash their rookies for Sunday's A game versus Scotland#ENGvSCO https://t.co/OSvwW6fGut
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 25, 2021
“And then we have got Ted Hill who is a very athletic young lock. He has the ability to play six as well but he has really ripped into his work since his squad selection. He has demonstrated real physicality and real desire outside of his set-piece and his carry.”
Sunday’s fixture will see assistant Mitchell take on the head coach responsibility, something he hasn’t done since his last Super Rugby match in charge of the Bulls against the Jaguares in Pretoria in 2018. This increased responsibility has kept him busy, especially as England have been working with a 36-strong squad contained 23 uncapped players. “It’s an initiative by Eddie,” explained Mitchell about his temporary promotion.
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“Our coaching group is very collaborative anyway. There have been some additional duties in terms of the way that you communicate, it has probably been more multiples of communication in front of the group that I wouldn’t normally do as an assistant coach so that has been good fun because it is important to communicate effectively as we don’t have too many meetings and too many sessions to become cohesive.”
"I have been scratching to work out who's who"
– Eddie Jones on his 23 mask-wearing England rookies, the rejuvenation in his coaching and what he wants done to make room in the calendar for more A team games https://t.co/QTKSGMFxcB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 24, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Yet, according to Jake White and other twonks who think better, Jenkins shouldn’t be picked by the boks. Daft.
3 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
13 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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 comments