May insists that England have their mojo back
ENGLAND’S player of the series called it a ‘line in the sand’. Time will tell if Jonny May is right to identify Saturday’s consolation victory over South Africa as a significant turning point but it brought them some relief and respite.
Eddie Jones and his squad will arrive back in London this morning armed with a result which allows them to enjoy their summer holidays free of a nagging sense of dread. They escaped it, just in time, by winning a Test — after five consecutive defeats.
May’s late try, created by Danny Cipriani’s perfect diagonal kick, was his third of the tour. But that personal feat was eclipsed by the magnitude of what it meant collectively. England needed to rediscover the lost knack of winning close encounters. They did so.
Although after defeats in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein it was a dead rubber, England knew the stakes were high. They knew criticism was mounting. They knew Jones was under fire.
May savoured the spirited response. ‘I feel like the team has got its mojo back,’ he said. ‘In those last 20 minutes, it felt like the England we are used to playing for. I’m pleased we found it when we needed it, with the pressure we were under and what we have been through.
‘We were gutted with how the results went in the first two games. It doesn’t make it okay but we’re in a good place now having won that game. It’s a bit of a line in the sand. I’m confident we will be a better team come the autumn.
‘Eddie stuck to his guns and kept very composed. I’ve got a lot of respect for how he’s kept it together, because he’s been under a lot of pressure.’
Despite this vital victory, Jones has pressing issues to address. First, he has to carry out an urgent reshuffle of his coaching staff, due to the departure of Paul Gustard — who is taking charge of Harlequins — and the ongoing absence of a full-time attack coach.
A new defence guru is ‘close’ to being appointed and will start working with the players during a training camp in August.
As for the attack role, Jones employed fellow Australian Scott Wisemantel on this trip and his compatriot made such a positive impact that he may be offered a longer term deal. That would go down well with the players. May described Wisemantel as ‘brilliant’.
On his watch, England did score some good tries here. In the first two Tests, some of their attacking play was sublime, audacious and deadly. But those periods were too short, as the pack couldn’t maintain pressure.
What changed at Newlands was that the English forwards stayed in the fight. The likes of Maro Itoje, Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw and Tom Curry rose to the occasion, to ensure they dominated the breakdown area. That, in turn, earned penalties and points.
But a stockpile of problems and conundrums have not suddenly been swept away.
Owen Farrell delivered a commanding performance to drive his team to victory but he remains a novice Test captain.
The fact the head coach is keeping the door ajar for Dylan Hartley to return suggests the leadership riddle has not been solved. Linked to that is the fact England took too long to address their disciplinary failings.
Also connected is the midfield selection picture. Farrell may yet emerge as the right fit at No10, instead of inside centre. George Ford was dropped for this match and while Cipriani has fought his way back into the team, he still has ground to make up in order to become a genuine World Cup candidate.
In defiance of all the doubts, Mike Brown switched to the wing effectively but Elliot Daly was less convincing at full-back and defensive lapses undermined Henry Slade’s audition at outside centre. Jones will want to see Manu Tuilagi and Ben Te’o fit next season.
The primary shortcomings lie up front. Billy Vunipola’s injury jinx is surely spreading alarm. Jones will agonise over whether to recall veterans such as Hartley and Dan Cole, or trust Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler to forge ahead to the World Cup. There is still a need for another mighty lock to complement various athletes.
There has been progress in terms of the back row. Brad Shields may soon usurp Robshaw at blindside. On the other flank, 20-year-old Tom Curry has emerged as the openside England have been looking for since Neil Back retired.
That development and Saturday’s win cannot mask cracks in the façade but another loss would have seen it crumble to dust entirely. As it is, the Jones regime is still standing.