England’s underwhelming victory over France featured probably England’s poorest 40 minutes for over a year. Although Eddie Jones called the performance ‘awful’, he also took responsibility, saying ‘I did not prepare the team well enough. I got some things wrong … I will make sure the team plays much better against Wales.’
Leading figures such as Clive Woodward also suggested the preparation could be to blame and maybe the training was overly intense. He also argued there were selection reasons behind England’s poor first half, questioning Jones’ decision to play Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly out of the best position.
You guys on The Rugby Blog have also been less than impressed, some calling for wholesale changes to this English side in order ensure they don’t let their winning run come to an end away in Cardiff.
This is all compounded by the way every member of England’s bench that came on made a huge contribution and turned the result in their favour.
There are some big decisions for Eddie Jones to make this week.
Rusty players
A couple of the pack were showing their rustiness and lack of game time, particularly in the front row. Joe Marler and Dylan Hartley have had no competitive match time in the past few months and understandably struggled against the ferocious efforts of the French forwards.
However, this should certainly have blown the cobwebs away. They will be better this week and I would resist making the change to bring in Matt Mullan and Jamie George – the cauldron of the Principality stadium has got the better of the English team in the past. It is time for these two leaders to stand up, but it is very much a case of last chance saloon. They cannot justify their place if they do not perform again – particularly given George’s excellent form and the imminent return of Mako Vunipola.
More ball carriers
The bigger issue for England was the lack of ball carriers. I think Nathan Hughes had a better game than the initial evidence suggests. The problem is he is not Billy Vunipola – he struggles to make ground from a standing start, instead usually utilising a bit more width and pace to maximise his carrying ability. This relies on other members of the pack contributing to those hard yards. It is no coincidence England looked more threatening when James Haskell came on – he was physical and direct and immediately helped Hughes and the rest of the pack make ground. If Haskell is even close to full fitness, for me he has to start.
I also agree with Woodward and would move Maro Itoje back to the second row. This is partly because Tom Wood, if he can overcome a shoulder injury, would be more suited to filling Chris Robshaw’s workhorse role than the destructive tackler England want at 7. Bringing Haskell in and shifting the two players to their preferred position would get the best out of them all. Itoje has the ability to play at flanker, but right now given the rest of the backrow is weakened through injuries, I think it is in everyone’s best interests to let him do what he does best.
The backline
I would also avoid wholesale changes to the backs. Although the backline ‘finishers’ shone when they came on, the changes to the pack undoubtedly contributed to this. With the forwards finally getting momentum with their carrying and doing better at the breakdown, Danny Care had much better ball than Ben Youngs enjoyed – in turn, this meant the other backs had time and space to excel.
Ben Te’o and Care were very impressive when they came on, but Youngs has earned a stay of execution given his work in the autumn and let’s not forget that the Ford/Farrell axis has been integral to the England victories so far. Let’s avoid a knee-jerk response and give them a chance to rectify their performance. If the backline fails to click again despite better work by the pack, we know Jones is unafraid to make early substitutions.
Elliot Daly
The last question mark hangs over Elliot Daly. Personally, I felt he was England’s stand out player on Saturday and has to remain in the 15. ‘Where’ is a bigger issue. I would disagree with Woodward when he argued that a ‘real’ winger would have had the finishing ability to score in the corner rather than be edged into touch. Yes someone else may have scored that, but it is a bit over the top to assume a regular winger would have just because of the number on their back – that would have been a sublime finish for any rugby player, even an out-and-out winger.
Daly has the vision and the pace, not to mention his invaluable cannon boot, to question defences. I agree he has the potential to be better at 15 or 13, but it is also not the right time to drop Mike Brown or Jonathan Joseph. Both are under pressure, but I think more likely it would be Jonny May who loses his place if Jack Nowell forces his way back into the 15. Daly’s versatility should be viewed as a massive boon – single-handedly he keeps the numbers 11-15 under pressure for their place. I don’t think it is over the top to say he is the closest we have to an English Ben Smith, although the Kiwi is currently a class apart. The Italy match may be right to try Daly in another shirt regardless of how his rivals perform.
But these are just the musings of an armchair critic, it is Jones who has the responsibility to make these big calls. It will be fascinating to see what he does. But I think it will be refinement over revolution.
My 23 for the Wales game: 1 Marler; 2 Hartley; 3 Cole; 4 Itoje; 5 Lawes; 6 Wood; 7 Haskell; 8 Hughes; 9 Youngs; 10 Ford; 11 Daly; 12 Farrell; 13 Jospeh; 14 Nowell; 15 Brown
16 George; 17 Mullan; 18 Sinckler; 19 Launchbury; 20 Clifford; 21 Care; 22 Te’o; 23 May
Who would you pick?
By Henry Ker
I agree with your sentiments. and most of your picks. But I think if May is not a starter then I am not sure I would have him on the bench. I would rather have Slade who I feel has been a bit underused by Jones.
In fact against Italy I would love to see him play at 12 with Farrell at 10.
BenHSmith
Couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. Farrell and Slade combo could be a killer with the right finishers on the wing!
That combo was last seen under in game 1 of the current 15 victories (Lancaster’s last) and what a game that was with plenty of attacking flair shown by the backs – something i would argue that has been the one missing piece from EJ’s total rugby masterplan
Farrell and Slade were actually centre partners in that match, rather than a 10/12 combo. Ford was flyhalf. An overkill of playmakers, they had four with Goode also at 15.
It was also against Uruguay, so I wouldn’t read too much into the performance…
Although Eddie Jones called the performance ‘awful’, he also took responsibility, saying ‘I did not prepare the team well enough. I got some things wrong … I will make sure the team plays much better against Wales.’
Yet another masterful piece of leadership by Eddie Jones. Brutal assessment of the performance, assumes personal responsibility for the shortcomings, reassures everyone that he has the confidence to put things right.
The bloke goes up in my estimation with every comment he makes. (And with every win, of course).
I agree with you Henry! I would definitely drop Ford!
Henry, you appeared to have missed off a fly half?
Haha thanks for pointing that out! Yes apparently I think England have had it too easy and should play without a flyhalf and only 14 men. Amended. I would keep Ford at 10
I would have Nowell over May as the only change to last week’s starting XV, but if it’s not working then Haskell on after 30 mins (either at expense of Wood, if he is all effort and no result again, or one of 2nd rows)
Given our gainline issues last week I was surprised Sinckler was not launched off the bench, hope to see some impact from him this week as well.
I agree with your picks with the exception of second row where I feel Laws must pay the price for his worsed performance yet. He really annoys me with his inconsistency, brilliant some times rubbish others. England can’t afford to carry him.
Are you talking about Lawes last week? The guy ran a good line out and put in some big hits? One on Serin stands out in my mind at a key time in our own 22. What more do you expect from him? I don’t think he was great, but his worse ever England performance seems extreme?
Also, if you were to pair Itoje and Launchbury – who calls the line out?
The feeling in the press this morning seems to be Nowell in for May, and Haskell to start again on the bench (as he is not considered ready/fit for a full game!). As bhuxtablesmith notes, I would also not have May on the bench.
Henry, I do actually agree with Woodward over Daly’s “try”. Wingers do practice this and it is a very under rated skill.
That said, I would keep Daly there as these chances don’t come along that often, and he brings so much more to the team.
Why has Marler had no game time “for the past few months”? He was injured on January 10th if my memory is correct, and considering the weight of the French pack I thought he did just about as well as could be expected. As for Hartley, if he was completely anonymous because he had no game time, whose fault was that? I think Gatland will take George instead of him on the Lions tour, and that reflects their respective abilities. Youngs has been poor for Leicester all season and should definitely go. The England backs look consistently sharper with Care´s quicker pass prompting them, and the argument that this is down to the subs always providing him with better ball simply doesn´t wash. I don´t see that Jonny May did a great deal wrong last week. How often did he actually get a ball in space? Daly had a decent game, but Brown continues to be as solid as a rock at full back and I think EJ will stick with him. I would have Farrell at 10 because I think that is his best position and he brings more physical presence than Ford, but I don´t think EJ will change much from last week. Launchbury and Itoje in the second row with Woods at 6 and Haskell at 7 with Clifford and Lawes to come off the bench would be OK.
Agree with many of the comments here, however ref Brown, many references to his performance here and elsewhere, often comment on his rock solidness in defence. Yes I agree a significant skill requirement for his position but he is becoming rather readable and predictive in his offensive play. And consequently easier to defend against. Catch ball and 5m-10m straight run into defenders, IMO he isn’t creating any real doubt or uncertainty in the minds of defenders. Jason Robinson for example would play more heads up, able to read on coming defences and create real doubt in defenders. Just puzzled as to why certain well known premiership players are not being given an opportunity???
Which players are you referring to?
Watson is injured
Daly can play fullback but doesn’t normally – ditto Nowell
Haley hasn’t really seemed as good this season
Goode is not international class
Who am I missing? I can’t think of anyone else really. Foden is not what he was, Pennell the same.
I’d be tempted to go with Daly to see what he can bring with a bit more space and time. However I’m not sure I’d try it in a big game. Brown was responsible for at least one try-saving tackle last week and it would be a brave man who dropped him with a 16 game win streak on the horizon.
As for his attacking, I did wonder in the France game whether he is being asked to counter attack in the way he did. Every time he did more or less the same thing. Each time he did it, he created a target for the forwards and because he is very good at presenting clean ball out of the tackle, each time England had quick ball to set the next phase up after the tackle and following ruck had dragged French players into the centre of the pitch. Perhaps the idea was to try to open up some space either side that could be exploited via the quick ball
Certainly EJ doesn’t seem to keep someone around if they are not doing what is asked of them. So he must be doing something right!
Totally agree with your assessment of Brown’s performance for England Pablito. Clearly playing to orders and doing it well as far as I am concerned.
Goode is injured, international class or not. Personally I wouldn’t say Brown is international class either.
I look at other international fullbacks and all the ones I see can at least launch a counter attack out of their own half, Yet as mentioned above Brown is so predictable and easy to defend. Maybe as you say it is intentional to give the forwards a target, but some variation would be nice just to put a little doubt in the defenders minds.
Hogg, Kearney, Williams or Halfpenny and Spedding would all be my choice for 15 before Brown.
With the exception of Hogg, the others have yet to really show any real form.
Kearney is very up and down, with Williams yet to show his true potential having been played on the wing.
Halfpenny is no where near the others, including Brown, in terms of offering an attacking threat; he is only in the team on account of his goal kicking.
I agree that BRown isn’t world class but hes not nearly as bad as you’ve made out.
EJ has proven to be consistently conservative in his selections and clearly values international experience and aggression. He’s brought on new players when required but with the exception of Barritt and T Youngs hasn’t differed much from Lancaster in selection -and has largely been proved right with Robshaw and Haskell. I think he’ll move Itoje back to lock and put Launchbury on the bench and start Haskell. He might bring Nowell in for May. The question is where and when to play Daly. He’s no more a wing than Brown was. I think playing JJ at 13 and Daly at 15 offers more than Daly at 13 and Brown at 15 but think EJ rates Brown’s aggression. I think he’ll keep the same back 3 to start and then bring on Nowell on the wing and move Daly to 13 or 15. I still like Austin Healey’s idea of Nowell bulking up to become a proper 7 though. Doubt Nowell would agree though!
Interesting. Has EJ been consistently conservative?
He selected Hartley as captain. He gave Haskell the 7 shirt. He picked Robshaw when the media and fans were all against him. He picked Ford and Farrell as a combo.
He’s made some huge changes to the way that England play, mainly by adding playmakers to the back line. You will never see a Jones team with a Burgess/Barritt type center pairing…
I’m starting to question Brown as a starter as, lets face it we know and if we know the opposition know it goes like this……..
Ball kicked deep, Brown catches ball, Brown starts charge up field, Brown reaches opposition defenders, Brown plow’s into defenders and is consumed.
No Brown passes/offloads in the tackle/kicks and chases he’s becoming very one dimensional in a very attacking role and needs to be put under pressure.
I agree with the selection as I like Nowell’s aggression and ability to defend over May’s, Clifford get my nod any day over the frankly baffling Harrison and I would like someone else to be tested at fly half and full back against Italy.