Backs to the future!
Eddie’s gamble as he unleashes new blood for Wallabies crunch
ENGLAND will unleash two more backs for the future against the Wallabies tomorrow as Eddie Jones reinforced his determination to build a team for the next World Cup — whatever the outcome of this series.
Leicester’s Anglo-Australian centre, Guy Porter, and Northampton back-three flier Tommy Freeman will make their Test debuts at Suncorp Stadium while Tigers scrum- half Jack van Poortvliet has also been promoted to the starting XV, at the expense of Danny Care.
These are bold moves for a team whose defeat in Perth last weekend was their fourth in a row, but Jones emphasised that the decisions were with the bigger picture in mind.
While England fans are growing frustrated about sub- standard results, the head coach has chosen a side with the conviction of a man who knows his position is secure, even if the next two fixtures go the way of the first. On the one hand, he spoke of this ‘pressure game’ as ideal ‘practice’ for the knockout phase of the World Cup, as if it is a mere audition. But when asked if performance is more important than the outcome, he said: ‘Test matches are always about winning.’
Jones dismissed any suggestion that this encounter was being viewed as a development tool but admitted to the focus being divided between the here-andnow and more distant priorities.
‘Everything is geared towards the World Cup,’ he said. ‘It always has been and always will be. We’ve got 12 months to the World Cup so we’re developing a team to win the World Cup, but we’re taking this game with the utmost importance. I apologise if it seems like I’ve been disrespectful to this Test, but it is a great opportunity for the team to grow.’
The English public will rail against any shift in mindset away from winning as the be-all and end-all, but it appears that the Red Rose squad are on board. When captain Courtney Lawes was asked to consider the performance-versus-result equation, he said: ‘The performance is more important for us, definitely.
‘We’d absolutely love to win, but developing as a team is at the forefront of our minds. There’s an end goal. We’re not going to be the final product for a little while, but just because we have a new team and a new strategy and are trying to find our DNA as a team, it doesn’t mean that we don’t feel like we’re good enough to beat these guys. We certainly do.’
Lawes has watched Freeman emerge as a prodigious talent at Northampton and he offered a resounding endorsement of his credentials, saying: ‘He’s probably one of the most talented wingers I’ve seen come through.
‘He’s very fast, very strong, he’s got great hands, he’s good at kicking — and he’s very tall so he’s quite good in the air as well. He’s a bit of a space cadet and that’s a good thing. If he’s not thinking too much about rugby, he’s not worrying about it.’
Jones insisted that all the promoted rookies are ‘ready to go’ and highlighted the resilience shown by Porter, saying: ‘I think he’s a guy who has had to struggle to get to the top. He plays a good, physical game and against Australia — who have a big back line — we need to be physical.’ Explaining his confidence in Van Poortvliet, he added: ‘He’s got good command of the forward pack, good communication skills, a good kicking game and a fast pass. He’s good defensively too.’
Meanwhile, Australia recalled mighty prop Taniela Tupou, as one of five changes to the side who won the series opener 30-28 in Perth last Saturday.
The imposing tighthead known as ‘Tongan Thor’ set his sights on Ellis Genge, saying: ‘It will be the first time I have played him. It is not personal, but it is personal. You want to be better than your opposition. He is going to come out there and try to give it to me and smash me. I will do exactly the same thing. We’ll see what happens.’