Keeping up with the Jones boys will be major struggle
Transformation ‘nothing short of utterly remarkable’ following rugby revolution
“ENGLAND!” Not that you would expect John Bentley to say anything else when asked the question, who will win this season’s Six Nations championship.
But while in previous years that might have been based on patriotism, Bentley says England’s impressive unbeaten run under Eddie Jones during the last 12 months – 14 wins from 14 starts – means they kick-off the 2017 series as odds-on favourites.
“The transformation is nothing short of utterly remarkable,” says Bentley, capped four times for his country before switching to rugby league, only to then switch back to union, and become a hero of the British & Irish Lions’ 1997 success over South Africa.
“Stuart Lancaster did a good job, but the players and the team just didn’t perform during the World Cup. What happened, on our own patch, was unthinkable.
“But since then Jones has brought about something akin to a revolution, this air of invincibility that we just haven’t seen or had since Clive Woodward was in charge. It’s great!”
According to Bentley, the Aussie coach has put pressure on the established players by challenging them with the introduction of in-form youngsters. “That has made everyone hungrier, sharper, and, desperate to keep their place. Just look at scrum-half and the competition between Danny Care and Ben Youngs – each with over 60 caps for their country – are performing like tomorrow could be their last game, simply because Eddie Jones has them so desperate to perform, drop below a certain standard and you are gone.
“It’s the same at stand-off with [George] Ford and [Owen] Farrell. Me, I like watching the guys in my old spot, the wingers. We are always critical and analytical about our old positions. It used to be the reserve of the worst kid, who couldn’t catch or kick, but who could run like hell.
“But just now, the guys like Jonny May and Elliot Daly out wide, are pin-up boys because of the tries they are scoring. The expansive game England operate means they are brought in to play more regularly. And they are excellent finishers.
“I’d have loved a bit of that action – and that attention,” Bentley joked. But even he concedes the backs only look good if the pack win possession.
“You mean the ugly boys,” he laughs, “But credit where it’s due, inspirationally, what a leader Dylan Hartley has been. A gamble, but a calculated one by Jones, who by focusing him on his job as captain, saw Hartley cut out the nonsense that has chequered his career. His presence also makes that English front five an impressive unit. And also up front, England have one of the guys I think could be a star of the tournament, Maro Itoje, a guy who can jump, catch, run, pass and has the skill level and game head to make him world class.
And while many will deny thinking beyond the next seven weeks, Bentley says that lure of the Lions will inspire many, with a few Scots in the mix.
“To be honest, title wise, I think this year it’s down to England against Ireland – and as I’ve said, obviously I’m going for England. Wales have had a good decade but I think people have in the last few years worked them out. That may change with a different coach. Italy will compete, and again, they’ll have taken so much from the Autumn Test matches.
“As for France, well who knows what team will turn up. We’ve never been able to work them out in the past, and for me, they are good opponents first match up for England.
“Which leaves Scotland, who I have to say – and not just because I love Edinburgh and Murrayfield so much on an international weekend – have been impressive.
“The building process to get to where they are has been slow for some – I prefer methodical, because I know how much goes into preparing a team or a squad which is constantly evolving. For me, the measure of where Scotland are now, and where their players are, is how many you are already looking at as Lions prospects; [Jonny] Gray, actually the Gray brothers, [Stuart] Hogg, [Finn] Russell. It is a talented bunch.
“There have been years where you’d be lucky to find two or three or four, good enough for the tour let alone the Tests. But right now, no-one would find it too unusual if you named six, or seven, or more. They, I mean you Jocks, have some wonderfully talented performers. This is a big season for them, both championship wise and, in making sure they get their bums on the plane for the flight to New Zealand. That I would like to see.” 15. M Brown (Harlequins); 14. J May (Gloucester), 13. J Joseph (Bath), 12. O Farrell (Saracens), 11. E Daly (Wasps); 10. G Ford (Bath), 9. B Youngs (Leicester); 1. J Marler (Harlequins), 2. D Hartley (Northampton, capt), 3. D Cole (Leicester), 4. J Launchbury (Wasps), 5. C Lawes (Northampton), 6. M Itoje (Saracens), 7. T Wood (Northampton), 8. N Hughes (Wasps). J George (Saracens), M Mullan (Wasps), K Sinckler (Harlequins), T Harrison (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), D Care (Harlequins), B Te’o (Worcester), J Nowell (Exeter).
Just now, the guys like Jonny May and Marland Yarde out wide, are pin-up boys because of the tries they are scoring. And they are excellent finishers Herald Sport’s prediction