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Wallabies boss Rennie was asked what he saw as England's strengths
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie is set to call on his full complement of overseas-based players when his side attempts to end the Eddie Jones curse later this year.
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England coach Jones is under intense pressure after finishing the Six Nations tournament with just two wins from five matches.
But if he does keep his job, he will enter the three-Test series against Australia in July knowing that he has a perfect 8-0 record against the Wallabies.
Rennie played the straightest of bats when asked if Jones’ current woes as England coach were as bad as the English media are making it out to be.
“You know I don’t read the media,” Rennie replied.
But the Wallabies coach was more forthcoming when asked about England’s strengths.
“They’re a very big territory team. They’ll be fit as and they’ll work really hard for each other,” Rennie said.
“Their kick-sprint is probably the best in the world. (They have the) ability to kick and apply pressure and try to force errors.
“They’ll defend really well, they’ll bring a lot of line speed, and they’ll back their set piece.
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“Our job when the time comes will be to diffuse those. Our set piece will need to be really good. We’ll need to do a good job in the air, and try to win the kicking battle to play the right end of the field.”
A change to eligibility rules means the Wallabies will be able to call up to three of their overseas-based stars to play in the series.
Rennie is yet to decide who they will be, but Quade Cooper, Samu Kerevi and Rory Arnold will be among the frontrunners.
“We’ve got three options per series, so who will depend on where we’re at and the depth we have in certain spots and maybe even on injury,” Rennie said.
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“But I’m OK with that. We want the majority of the players coming from here.
“What we know is a number of those boys are on massive money and on our budget we can’t afford to bring them home, even though that would be the ideal, to get everyone back playing here.
“We will definitely, for the English series, have overseas influence.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments