Launchbury: Our ‘nasty’ forwards will strike fear into autumn rivals
JOE LAUNCHBURY claims England have a pack of forwards to strike fear into their autumn opponents – whoever gets the nod.
Eddie Jones is ready to ring the changes against Argentina in Saturday’s season-opener at Twickenham, resting a number of his frontline stars ahead of the Australia clash seven days later.
But Wasps captain Launchbury insists that whichever eight get the nod will boast enough devil to maintain England’s progress towards the top of the rankings.
“The old-school growling has probably gone as crossing the line is going to take away massively from the team, what with the amount of retrospective banning and TMO work there is nowadays,” the 19-stone second row giant conceded.
“But are we nasty enough as a group of forwards? Yeah, we’ve proved we are. Being physical and strong, having an intensity and playing on the edge of physicality, is extremely important. “And while maybe in the past we might not have shown the ability to take a game by the scruff of the neck for 80 minutes, we’re building towards that.” England have already whitewashed the Pumas in their backyard, winning two Tests of a series in which Jones blooded 11 new caps, seven of them up front. Launchbury, the unluckiest of this summer’s non-Lions, started both and knows Argentina are “coming here to prove a point”. “We understand that challenge, particularly as forwards,” he said. What they do not know is how much game time each will get in a month which concludes with a game against Samoa. “We really don’t have a clue,” added the 26-year-old of selection. “Ask anyone, the guys are unsure of exactly where they stand.
“But that’s how Eddie wants it to be. He wants everyone competing for places as it’s the way to bring the best out of each other.” Contrast Jones’ approach with that of predecessor Stuart Lancaster when the Cumbrian handed Launchbury his full debut in 2012. “We should be sat here in seven to eight years’ time with nothing to talk about,” said Lancaster. “You’ll be saying ‘is there anyone else?’ and I’ll be saying ‘Joe Launchbury’s still the best’.” With Lions trio Maro Itoje, George Kruis and Courtney Lawes vying with Launchbury for second row selection, not forgetting Charlie Ewels and Nick Isiekwe (all below, left to right), the days of certainty have gone.