IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT SQUAD YOU WILL EVER PICK, EDDIE WORLD CUP WINNING COACH
Today’s squad announcement is the most important of Eddie Jones’ England career, but I’m hoping there will be no fireworks or left-field selections. What I am looking for is clear, unambiguous statements of intent within that selection.
Eddie faces the toughest England World Cup campaign in history. I had it easy in comparison.
In 2003, England only really had to worry about australia, New Zealand and south africa — now Ireland, Wales, scotland and France come seriously into play.
and you can include argentina too. The Pumas have mastered the art of peaking for the World Cup. and in case anybody needs reminding, France and argentina are in England’s pool.
a lot of those teams are much further down the line to finalising their starting XV for Japan.
England seem nowhere near settling on their ‘Gun XV’ and that’s the big issue Eddie urgently needs to address.
England must go back to basics and build the team and squad around those world-class players who, barring injury, must start every game from this point onwards. Consistency of selection over the next year is a must. Eddie must start biting the bullet and make the big calls.
In my estimation, those players are dylan Hartley, owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Elliot daly and Chris ashton. Ben youngs at his very best probably joins that group as well. alas, Billy Vunipola spends so much time sidelined by injury these days that I am taking him out of the equation for the time being.
His brother Mako too. He would be a guaranteed starter for me but was yesterday ruled out for six weeks with a calf tear.
so I want a clear message that Hartley will resume as captain — but only if he stays on for 80 minutes. your captain and firstchoice hooker coming off early in the second half is a complete nonsense. When did this become a good idea? Captains should never come off unless they are injured or their team is leading by 40 points. do you see alun Wyn Jones or Kieran Read coming off early? When did Richie McCaw, Martin Johnson or Lawrence dallagio ever quit the fray early? I have every confidence that Hartley is an 80-minute player — he has that level of fitness — but for club and country, bang on 50 minutes the shepherd’s crook comes out. When was the last time he started and finished a game of any note?
Eddie also needs to end the debate at 10. Farrell is England’s No 10 going forward, with George Ford on the bench to provide a tactical option later on if Eddie wants to switch Farrell to 12.
That means no place for danny Cipriani. If you consider Farrell as a 10 then Cipriani’s usefulness is diminished. His involvement in the nightclub incident in Jersey in the summer caused me to reassess his England prospects.
If he is still playing well in January, Eddie might just have another look to see if he can fulfil a squad role — and of course injuries might yet come into play — but for me, he has no role this autumn. With Farrell at 10 I see Henry slade as his ball-playing 12 in midfield. I know slade is playing 13 for Exeter but in my estimation, he is a Test 12
England currently have three Test- class wings in ashton, the versatile daly and Jonny May, who has made himself almost undroppable.
ashton is a brilliant finisher, the best in the business, who needs to be brought into the England fold properly. Eddie needs to put an arm round him, but that act of faith from the England coach must be repaid by ashton with a promise to cut out the splashdowns and the nonsense he sometimes gets himself involved with on the field.
daly is world class and must start somewhere. I think he is a 13. The Lions played him on the wing but many, including Eddie, believe he is a full back. If it is the latter,
Eddie must make that call and give him a run in that position through to the World Cup.
Nobody really new seems to have sprung from left field this season.
I thought more players might have put their hands up, although I like the look of big Joe Cokanasiga at Bath, he definitely warrants a squad place.
I’ve been impressed with Alex Lozowski — a tough no-nonsense competitor who punches way above his weight — and I wonder if he’s about to get a run at 13.
Eddie generally prefers a big ‘good un’ to a little ‘good un’ and Manu Tuilagi will undoubtedly be included. It’s great to see him playing regularly for Tigers again, but he still isn’t quite back to his best.
Itoje is playing really well and finally looks comfortable in the back row. Is it me or is he looking quicker and more dynamic than last season?
He has convinced me his position is blindside flanker where he is playing for Saracens rather than in the second row. It didn’t work out two seasons ago, but he is a bit older and more experienced and England need to bite the bullet here. There are plenty of locks to choose from so Itoje’s most significant contribution could be at No 6.
As for openside flanker, it’s still a confusing picture. Tom Curry is the man in possession and did a pretty good job in South Africa but is he the only option? Matt Kvesic is going well for Exeter but Eddie has never looked kindly on him and I wonder if his preference for bigger, stronger players might again come into play.
Michael Rhodes is now qualified for England and going well. He will feature in the squad and with Billy Vunipola and Chris Robshaw injured and Nathan Hughes now facing a ban, Don Armand must be a strong contender to be added to the back-row mix.
Whatever his call, I want to see some clarity from Eddie and a clear pecking order established in all the back-row positions. No more fudging the issue.
England must identify their ‘Gun XV’ within the squad and, give or take injuries, stick with it through the autumn and the Six Nations.
I want the emphasis on starters, 80-minute warriors, and not on so-called finishers which has taken us down a blind alley and could cost this England team dear.