Why Nick Easter is worried about England
Former captain Nick Easter believes England’s formidable pack has suddenly become vulnerable thanks to a catalogue of problems which offers Scotland the chance to register their first win at Twickenham for 38 years in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener.
Easter’s concerns are understandable given that England cannot call upon the injured trio of Joe Launchbury, Mako Vunipola and Sam Underhill while Kyle Sinckler is banned and Joe Marler has gone into self-imposed exile again. Add to those absentees at Twickenham, key forwards Maro Itoje and Jamie George have not played since helping England win the Autumn Nations Cup against France on December 6 while Billy Vunipola has managed just one game against Ealing Trailfinders.
In essence England face Scotland without three ball-carrying threats in Mako Vunipola, Sinckler and Launchbury who is also the best line out maul defender in Europe. In the face of this denuded armoury, Easter expects Jones to “go big” and bring in Exeter lock Jonny Hill for Launchbury and use Northampton’s Courtney Lawes as the blindside flanker. Not surprisingly, Easter, who is now Newcastle’s defence coach, puts in a strong case for the inclusion of Falcons flanker Mark Wilson whose hard-nosed approach to any challenge could be needed against a feisty Scottish pack.
Easter is also concerned about the lack of a Twickenham crowd which significantly reduces the fear factor for a Scotland team that staged one of the great comebacks last time they played at the home of English rugby ending up with a 38-38 draw having gone in at half time trailing 31-0.
The former Harlequins No8 told RugbyPass: “England are more vulnerable – 100 per cent – and the fact there is no crowd is also a factor. While Scotland have a terrible record at Twickenham (last win 1983) the last time they played they got the draw and I don’t believe the stadium has the same fear for the Scots. It is a completely different place without 82,000 fans and I don’t think there is a better time for Scotland to have England.
“The Scottish players having been involved in regular Pro14 games is also massively in their favour. There is also the disruption caused by the positive COVID-19 test for forwards coach Matt Proudfoot that has meant Jones has been isolating.
“With a new front row and the Saracens players not having played regular rugby means there are concerns because the stronghold of England under Eddie Jones has been the forward pack and they are the ones who have bullied Ireland and other nations and provided the platform to go and win games comfortably. You are taking quite a few ingredients out of there and there is little time before the first game to get that cohesion.”
Easter is taking comfort from the depth in English rugby and the success they have enjoyed under Jones who will be ramping up training to ensure his players are not shocked by the Scottish effort.
He added: “This is testing the strength in depth in English rugby and we haven’t had the current riches we see in the Premiership. I like the Jonny Hill and Maro Itoje combination and Hill made a big difference when he came in the last games against France and he fronts up every week in the Premiership and Maro is one of the most disruptive players in the game and I don’t see it being an issue in the second row. Jones likes Billy Vunipola but he hasn’t been the player of 2016-17 for a while now and that is why I think he will go with his biggest pack which means Courtney Lawes at No6.
“Jones likes Mark Wilson and he could pick Tom Curry and Mark and go with them. Jones is scarred from the World Cup final defeat and wants to go with bullying packs and Courtney could be deployed to counter the threat of the Scottish pack which has been coming on nicely.
“There is a case for starting the Exeter boys because the Sarries guys haven’t been playing but someone like Jamie George is a stand out guy and has a big impact on the pack and England do lack leaders and we need more heading to the next World Cup. George is head and shoulders above the others.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A 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?
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.
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.
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.
24 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.
10 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.
17 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 comments