Why are England in a hole – and what do they do about it?
What is the problem?
The fact that England are giving away so many penalties – some of them daft, hare-brained ones – is a reflection of their lack of inner belief that things will work out well for them at the final whistle. They have lost trust in the systems and in each other, not consciously perhaps, but the outcome of that jitteriness and uncertainty is there to be seen in the stats. They are over-eager because they are anxious. It is perfectly possible to play on the edge without transgressing.
What is the solution?
Serious times call for radical remedies. England have been micro-managed to within an inch of their waking life. Every minute is accounted for. Last week they did a training/recovery session on the edge of the Indian Ocean at their Umhlanga Rocks base, rotating through various choreographed activities in small groups. This week they should just charge into the water, splash and duck each other, then set up an impromptu game of beach cricket or head to the coffee shack along the boardwalk. A few beers and a quiz today would not be beyond the pale either.
Should Eddie Jones stay or go?
Eddie Jones should stay but he has to change his approach. His hands-on, driven, no waking-moment-wasted methods have worked – but no longer in this context. It is too late for regime change and there is no obvious candidate to step into the breach. Jones is still in credit with the Rugby Football Union but, if he were to lose nine in a row, the mood would darken considerably.
What is the problem?
England are over-reliant on Billy Vunipola. They lamented his absence during the Natwest Six Nations and have never found a viable Plan B to get over the gain-line. Vunipola missed all of Saracens’ training sessions in the week leading up to the Premiership final and was carefully monitored before England headed out to Durban. As far back as April there were calls to leave him at home if his fitness was going to be rushed. Now his re-fractured arm emphasises how much he needs a thorough rest.
What is the solution?
England have tried Sam Simmonds at No 8 but you sense Eddie Jones is looking for more bulk. Nathan Hughes, Vunipola’s back-up, has endured his own injury problems and lacks impetus with ball in hand. Jones has tried a number of options in his tenure – including Jack Clifford and Teimana Harrison – but the solution might be Brad Shields (right), who has played there with the Hurricanes. That said, the whole pack need to be making more ground with their carries.
Should Eddie Jones stay or go?
Stay. But if England are getting outmuscled up front then the finger needs to be pointed at Steve Borthwick, who has been Jones’s forwards assistant since their time with Japan. The Springboks suffocated England physically in Bloemfontein. Neal Hatley, in charge of the scrum, is also under scrutiny.
What is the problem?
There is a growing sense that this is a side in freefall, unable to halt the slide and correct the clear fault lines that have emerged this season, and that Eddie Jones is struggling to effect the change required both in tactical play and selection. Indiscipline, a lack of direction, defensive errors and an inability to adapt to swings in momentum are recurring themes and have undone England’s attempt to restore their status as credible contenders for next year’s World Cup during this series.
What is the solution?
Jones needs to reassess his coaching style and challenge his own management team to find solutions. The level of micromanagement should be examined, so too the intensity of some of the conditioning in training. The appointment of an attack and defence coach should provide the opportunity for a fresh perspective and Jones has to empower them to address areas of concern. The players, too, should be given a greater say in the running of the team. At present they appear to lack the conviction or authority to adapt on their feet.
Should Eddie Jones stay or go?
Jones has more than enough credit in the bank from his first two seasons in charge to be given more time to address the alarming slump in form but, if it continues through the autumn, his position is likely to become untenable.
What is the problem?
England have the stated aim of wanting to become an adaptable side but are nowhere close to achieving that. They seem incapable of moulding themselves to match situations, weather conditions, opposition tactics or referee interpretation. A mixture of those last two aspects has manifested itself in crippling penalty counts. Selection is one reason for this and injuries have not helped. Still, Eddie Jones has struggled to develop new combinations – most notably in midfield and across the back row – that were not already established by age-group coaches, Stuart Lancaster or Saracens.
What is the solution?
It is not straightforward. Trusting domestic form, as Jones patently does not, might be a good start. Even if England’s head coach seems to have made up his mind on Don Armand and Alex Goode, the decision to deploy Piers Francis on the bench at Ellis Park felt odd. Danny Cipriani’s cameo in Bloemfontein showed what might have been, but what a shame that neither of Dan
Robson and Alex
Lozowski (right) have played a single minute on this trip.
Should Eddie Jones stay or go?
He should stay, but another defence coach and a permanent attack coach must provide fresh ideas to invigorate the set-up. Jones’s headstrong moments, such as that phone call to Carl Fearns – to tell the Lyon No8 that he would not last 15 minutes at Test level – seem even more misguided now.