Three reasons why Australia will be relishing thought of playing tourists
Chastening, humbling, humiliating. Pick your adjective. England’s loss to the Barbarians was jarring stuff.
There is a recent precedent for fronting up on an overseas trip after such a gruesome game. England conceded nine tries in a 63-45 loss four years ago to the same opponent before making a decent fist of a tough series against South Africa.
That will not ease the concerns of supporters, even if senior statesmen from Leicester Tigers and Saracens will bolster the touring group who are named today.
Here is why Australia should feel confident of exacting revenge for their 2016 whitewash.
Over-reliance on Smith in attack
Marcus Smith did conduct some assured sequences with moments of verve and variety. England’s frontline fly-half found Joe Marchant with a hooked kick-pass, launched the counter that led to Joe Cokanasiga’s finish by offloading to the dangerous Tommy Freeman and directed matters for Jonny May’s try in the second period.
One flat pass to Charlie Ewels in the first half, however, resembled the stodgy struggles of the Six Nations. Black and white hoops engulfed an isolated carrier and England lost possession. As far as scruffiness is concerned, that proved to be the tip of the iceberg.
Two passes, one from Harry Randall and one from Mark Atkinson, were intercepted and coughed up tries. Ball security in contact left a lot to be desired. Jones has been eager to team up Smith with Owen Farrell, and that would lighten the distributing load, as well as allowing the former to slip to second-receiver more often.
Outmuscled all over the field
Some of the glaring defensive lapses could be explained, if not excused, by the lack of cohesion among an unfamiliar team, compounded by the fact that players such as Jonny Hill, Atkinson and May had not had much rugby over recent months. In unstructured situations, England were sliced apart by opponents running with freedom.
The sight of Alex Dombrandt in the stands with significant scaffolding around his knee told its own story and England’s back-row reshuffle after the Harlequin’s withdrawal was interesting in itself. Tom Curry could have been shifted to the
base of the scrum. Instead, the captain and Sam Underhill remained on the flanks and Callum Chick started between them.
Chick was industrious and forced an important turnover early in the second period. Curry did eventually move to No8, England finishing with Courtney Lawes and Jack Willis either side of him.
England were regularly outmuscled at the ruck and on the gain line. Billy Vunipola’s eye-catching performance in the Premiership final, during which he amassed 25 carries, would seem to be well timed in this regard. The 29-year-old seemed close to his vintage best. Afterwards,
though, Jones suggested Vunipola might be compromised by a head knock he took late on against Leicester.
In the absence of Manu Tuilagi, and with Sam Simmonds also injured, they must find momentum consistently in Australia. Jones hinted that new methods were bedding in, but something has to click down under, because Martin Gleeson is yet to make a mark as attack coach.
Set-piece woes
England’s phase play is nowhere near effective enough to negate wobbles at the scrum and the lineout.
Bevan Rodd shipped two penalties early on and the line-out remained shambolic for most of the contest. Hill and Ewels will have been frustrated, and wayward throws offset a busy display by Harlequins hooker Jack Walker. Matt Proudfoot inspired a resurgence for England’s mauling over the Six Nations.
Ellis Genge and Maro Itoje will obviously enhance the squad as a force in the tight, while there will be a temptation to call for at least one of Mako Vunipola and Joe Marler. Ollie Chessum also shone in the Premiership decider. He should get a crack against Australia.