BARE BONES TO BASH BOKS
Jones leans on rookies for inspiration
EDDIE JONES says England are down to the bare bones as they prepare to take on South Africa at Twickenham tomorrow.
The England coach yesterday named a back row with just 10 caps – compared with the Springboks’ 100 – amid an injury crisis.
And loose-head prop Alec Hepburn will start his first Test in the opening autumn international.
“It’s the deepest we’ve had to dig,” said Jones. “We’re missing 400 caps.
“You don’t just replace 400 caps overnight. It’s probably the most inexperienced pack England have had for a long time.
“But I’m very excited. We’ve got a chance to do something special here with a young team.
“We have to make sure they go into the game with a clear head for what their role is and how the team want to play and I think we’ve managed to do that.
“Now they just have to get on with it. The more senior players around them – the ones we’ve got left – have to try to help them.”
Newcastle’s
Mark Wilson, who plays most of his club rugby at No.6, has been asked to fill BillyVunipola’s boots at No.8 as he starts a Test for just the second time against the giant Boks, who will be 4lbs per man heavier. “You know exactly what Daly; Nowell, Slade, Te’o, May; Farrell, Youngs; Hepburn, Hartley, Sinckler, Kruis, Itoje, Shields, Curry, Wilson. Replacements: George, Moon, Williams, Ewels, Mercer, Care, Ford, Tuilagi. SOUTH AFRICA: Willemse; Nkosi, Kriel, de Allende, Dyantyi; Pollard, van Zyl; Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Etzebeth, P-S du Toit, Kolisi, Vermeulen, Whiteley.
Mbonambi, T du Toit, Louw, Snyman, de Jager, Papier, Jantjies, Esterhuizen.
the South African team is going to bring – a lot of physicality,” Wilson said.
“But we’ve got different strengths and different qualities and it’ll be an interesting match-up.”
Owen Farrell’s switch to stand-off tomorrow offers a glimpse into Jones’ potential World Cup game plan.
Since the Australian took over three years ago, Farrell’s midfield link with George Ford has been key for England. Tomorrow he will effectively take sole control of the backline with Ford relegated to the bench.
Jones’ faith in Ford has wavered with Danny Cipriani being handed the No.10 shirt in Cape Town in the summer.
Cipriani has since been dropped, but Leicester’s Ford has been unable to convince Jones that he is back to his best. If Farrell takes tomorrow’s
game by the scruff of the neck, it could lay a new template for
Japan 2019.
Jones said: “Owen’s a good decision-maker and he has a very good tactical kicking game.
“He’s a bit of a spiritual leader in our side so being close to the action will help in that regard.
“Owen’s from good stock and he’s an aggressive competitor. We need that against South Africa, definitely.
“He does all the training then does another 45 minutes of goal-kicking. I think he handles responsibility well.”