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'We'd 18 scrums and 12 mauling contests, so that's 30 contests where you basically go 8-vs-8 which is unusual'
Eddie Jones has described Saturday’s Autumn Nations Cup meeting with Georgia as an ‘unusual’ game for England against an Eastern European opposition they had only ever met twice previously. The recently crowned Six Nations champions got their new campaign up and running with a six-try, 40-0 win in the Twickenham rain, a margin of victory that was less than what had been widely predicted.
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However, there was an edge to proceedings on the back on an infamous scrummaging training session between the two countries at Oxford in spring 2019, an altercation which fed into England’s attitude towards the Georgians in London.
“We always want to win the forward battle, we especially want to win it against Georgia,” said Jones, speaking post-game on Saturday. “All the guys remember the session against Georgia in Oxford.
“That was one of those things that when you sit down and talk about scrummaging, Georgia comes to mind – and even the backs got involved in that session. They were backs running from about 40 metres away to have a better look at it.
“We wanted to make a point today that we weren’t going to be stood over and we did that. Really pleased with the efforts, particularly of the starting front row, (Ellis) Genge, Jamie (George) and Will (Stuart) and then Mako (Vunipola), (Tom) Dunn and Kyle (Sinckler) came on and did a great job at the end of the game. We were pretty comprehensive in that area.
PLAYER RATINGS
– @alexshawsport ??? rates the English player's performances #ENGvGEO in the @autumnnations. Lots of 6s but there is a 8 and a 9 in there: https://t.co/jrxT80NQXN
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 14, 2020
“It was quite an unusual game,” he continued. “We had 18 scrums and I think twelve mauling contests so that is 30 contests where you have basically go eight against eight which is unusual in Test match rugby. There was probably 250 per cent more than you normally get and in that sort of game it worked really well. The game against Ireland is not going to be like that so we need to rethink how we select the team.
“We played Georgia today which produced a challenge in the set-piece and I thought our set-piece was absolutely outstanding. We probably would have like to have been a bit sharper in terms of our execution with the ball we won, but the conditions were difficult and it’s something we can keep working on and improving.”
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The fixture with England was massive for Georgia, the regular B Six Nations champions who usually only get to take on tier one opposition every four years at the World Cup. It has often been said that they should be included in the Six Nations at the expense of struggling Italy and while Jones wasn’t joining that particular debate, his assessment of the progress the Eastern European are making was positive.
“Having watched them play over the last five, six years they are slowly developing their game. They have got a number of good young players coming through being involved in their successful U20s side. You’re starting to see the side starting to keep its trademarks of a strong scrum and strong driving maul, but they are producing backs that have got a bit of feel for the game. There is a really positive future for the Georgian team.”
Jones, who reported that Jonathan Joseph has a lower back spasm, also commended the display of debut-making try-scorer Jack Willis, adding that newcomers in recent weeks have helped England develop. “It was a good sound performance,” he said of Willis.
“We have got a number of good young players coming through at the moment. That’s six new caps we have had in the first two games since we started playing again. There’s a good group of new players coming through that are pushing everyone ahead of them. All the players know they have got to keep working, got to keep progressing if they want to stay in the squad.”
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Wonder how this remark will go down across the Severn? https://t.co/ShdcN5LBsP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 14, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks 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.
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.
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.
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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
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.
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?
5 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.
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