JASON ROBINSON WRITES FOR EXPRESS SPORT:
USA CLASH IS CHANCE TO MAKE A MARK
There is a jarring reality to today’s game against the USA for some of the England players involved. It might be their first and last taste of this World Cup.
There could be injuries that create opportunities but equally this could be it for some. The maths don’t work for them – 31 into 23 doesn’t go.
As England move towards the business end of the group and Argentina and France, Eddie Jones will revert to his frontline players. So those guys being given a run today have to make the most of their moment.
A World Cup can be tougher on some guys than others. At least those playing today have this one shot. Back in 2003, when we won the World Cup, Simon Shaw did not get on the pitch.
I think it’s wise of Eddie to shuffle his cards at this stage. There were some big impacts in that Tonga game on Sunday and it is only a short turnaround for those who are being asked to back up. What the selection also does is ensure everybody in the squad – apart from Jack Nowell and Mako Vunipola, who are injured – has experienced a taste of the tournament. In that sense the games have fallen well for England – if it had been Argentina or France today, Eddie would not have been able to make so many changes.
There is a lot to improve on from the Tonga game and England will want to step up their performance.
I predicted a 30-point win for England and the margin turned out to be 32, so in that respect the game unfolded how I anticipated. But what did surprise me, having got out in front in the first half, was England’s inability to pull away in the last quarter.
Manu Tuilagi scored a couple of tries and Anthony Watson had a couple of good runs but nobody really had a blinder.
All in all it was a little bit scrappy with a lot of unforced errors, but it was the first game of the tournament and World Cups do take some getting used to. The intensity is different to anything else. Everyone expects England to win today and win comfortably – USA are one of the weaker teams we will play – and so do I.
If I was a winger going out there I would be wanting to score a couple of tries and make my mark on the tournament.
My advice to Joe Cokanasiga would be to go looking for that ball. Don’t just wait for it to come to you – go and make things happen. Dominate in the air, support the breaks and look for inside balls off the No10 or the No12.
Big Joe is different to all the other wingers we have got. He has a lot of power but he also has quick feet for a big man.When he gets his hands on the ball he causes problems. And he can score tries. This is his time to show the world what he’s got.
And with the pace of Ruaridh McConnochie and Elliot Daly, it’s not a bad England back three. I’ve watched McConnochie on the sevens circuit through the years and he’s done well for Bath this season.
Of all the wingers in the squad he is the one with the most to prove and he has not got a lot of time to do it. Maybe just 80 minutes.