Who were the England 'winners' on Eddie Jones' watchlist this weekend?
With the remaining Six Nations fixtures looming for England, not to mention the autumn’s ‘Eight Nations’ tournament, Eddie Jones is a busy man assessing exactly where his players are following the Coronavirus lockdown.
The Australian has been in attendance at multiple games since the Gallagher Premiership’s restart and though the overall quality of the rugby, somewhat understandably, has left plenty to be desired, there have been some notable performances from individuals which will have given Jones pause for thought.
Round 15 brought a marked improvement in the quality of rugby across the tournament from the opening weekend, despite the fact many Directors of Rugby opted to heavily rotate their squads ahead of the beginning of midweek matches on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bristol Bears and Wasps maintained their strong form, whilst big spenders Sale Sharks are yet to click as they fell to a home defeat to title favourites Exeter Chiefs.
We have taken a look at who some of the big individual winners were over the course of the weekend, as they attempt to force their way into or consolidate their places within Jones’ plans, as well as those who put down a marker for future involvement in the coming seasons.
Jack Maunder, Exeter Chiefs
Maunder showed in the opening game of the weekend that he is not to be forgotten in the race for the England nine jersey, now that Nic White has returned to Australia. The scrum-half burst on to the scene, winning his first England cap back in 2017 whilst he was still U20 eligible, but the strangleholds that White and Ben Youngs have had on the two jerseys in his sight have yet to see him add to that solitary cap he won against Argentina.
Ben Spencer is the front-runner to usurp Youngs, though Maunder was impressive against Sale, mixing up his passing game and showing good control as a box-kicker, something which is as pivotal for England as it is for Exeter. A few more showings like this, potentially including a Premiership semi-final and final, and Maunder could be right in the mix come November.
Max Malins and Ben Earl, Bristol Bears
The pair looked extremely comfortable as Bristol went through the gears and reaffirmed at Kingsholm that they are a threat to go all the way to Twickenham this year. Two of the more gifted attacking players to come through Saracens’ academy in recent years, they have taken to Pat Lam’s high-tempo Bears side likes ducks to water.
As impressive as Jack Willis has been for Wasps, it still feels externally as though Earl is the man that Jones would break up his vaunted Sam Underhill and Tom Curry partnership for, something which could be to do with the carrying impact the versatile loose forward brings, with turnovers having not been in short supply for England’s incumbent pack in recent seasons. As for Malins, his task was not helped by an impressive outing from George Furbank for Northampton Saints, with the new England full-back indicating that he is here to stay.
Alfie Barbeary, Wasps
It was a try-scoring cameo for Barbeary and though Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tom Dunn aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, it was an indication of what’s to come for the highly-touted youngster. He has previously excelled with his physicality, his motion into contact and his ball-handling at the age-grade levels and, though Friday night was just a small glimpse into his career as a senior player, those traits all look as though they have translated from the junior game.
Nick Isiekwe and Lewis Ludlam, Northampton Saints
If there were any questions over Isiekwe’s ability – a beneficiary of the Saracens system or a foundation of it – they were put to bed on Saturday, as he turned in by and far the most impressive defensive performance at the Stoop. From sacking mauls and stealing lineouts to putting in momentum-shifting tackles in defence, the lock was full value for his man of the match award. If Chris Boyd can get Isiekwe’s refined ball-handling skills on show consistently, too, he will be hard to keep out of an England 23.
If that attacking outpouring was not quite present with Isiekwe on Saturday, it certainly was with Ludlam, as the England flanker once again displayed his violent edge as a ball-carrier. Like Earl, his case to be involved at the senior international level will revolve around his ability to add an attacking dimension to the England back row, in what is arguably the most fiercely contested competition for starting spots in living memory.
First 4??0?? was dire ?https://t.co/RX12ajwj3U
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 22, 2020
Ben Loader and Ollie Hassell-Collins, London Irish
It was a day to forget for London Irish as they struggled to make things happen in the first half, before Northampton began to find their rhythm after the interval. For all their struggles, however, both Loader and Hassell-Collins looked threatening on the wings and almost created something from nothing on multiple occasions. Even on the back foot, the pair were a handful for Saints and they have bedded themselves into the lengthy hierarchy of English wings looking for caps.
Cameron Redpath, Bath
A wonderfully balanced game from Redpath for Bath, as Leicester had to account for his threat as a runner as much as they had to be wary of his ability to put the likes of Jonathan Joseph, Semesa Rokoduguni and Ruaridh McConnochie through holes. With the Bath pack on the front-foot throughout against Leicester, Redpath was able to dissect the youthful Tigers defence and put down a marker about how potent his midfield combination with Joseph could become.
A lack of games at Sale has perhaps seen Redpath fall off the radar a little following his injury-enforced absence on the South Africa tour at just 18 years of age, but with Bath trending the right way, his opportunities with England could soon be rekindled. If Jones wants a balanced centre rather than a sledgehammer outside of Farrell at 10, or a player capable of spelling Farrell at 12, Redpath will throw his hat into the mix with a few more performances like this one.
George Martin, Leicester Tigers
Similar to Barbeary, Martin is not in the England frame right now, though his display this weekend is a tantalising glimpse into what he will bring over the coming years. A powerful lock in the U18s, Martin made his senior bow on the blindside and displayed all of the physicality and mobility that had singled him out at the previous level. If he can keep improving and rounding out the technical side of his game to match the innate physical ability, Tigers could have found a cornerstone of their pack moving forward.
Geordan Murphy has defended the selection of one of their youngest starting line-ups in Premiership history. https://t.co/2Z6ODtjmYM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 23, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
This sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
12 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
12 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
12 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
12 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
12 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
12 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to comments