>> Ella: Eddie’s bang on course for that No.1 spot
NEALE HARVEY talks to Australian backline guru Glen Ella about his recent England experiences and how Eddie Jones has inspired a dramatic change in his players’ thinking
“My role involved giving young guys confidence in their running lines and tactical approach”
Glen Ella, the Aussie attack guru hired by Eddie Jones to hone England’s backline skills on their hugely successful recent tours of Australia and Argentina, reckons the Red Rose outfit are bang on course in their quest to unseat world champions New Zealand.
With Japan 2019 now just over two years away, England’s record under Jones reads impressively, with 19 wins and a single loss since he took charge of affairs 18 months ago in the wake of a disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign under Stuart Lancaster.
More importantly, however, Ella believes England are close to achieving the attacking edge necessary to worry a New Zealand side who, despite recently losing and drawing matches against the Lions, remain the benchmark in terms of attacking threat.
A Rugby Paper survey reveals that under the wily Jones, England have rediscovered their attacking zest to the extent that during 2016 and 2017 they have averaged 32 points and 3.5 tries per game – their highest scoring rate since Sir Clive Woodward’s potent World Cup winners took world rugby by storm during English rugby’s golden period in 2002 and 2003.
Allied to the strength-in-depth that manifested itself impressively in Argentina, when a squad containing 17 uncapped players took on and defeated the Pumas in their own backyard, former Wallaby Ella is delighted to have contributed to the turnaround.
Speaking from his home in Sydney last week, Ella said: “If you’re going to beat New Zealand in a World Cup you’re going to have to score tries. You can’t just rely on kicking goals, you have to go at them and need to develop your game – and that goes from first phase to the backs playing what’s in front of them.
“Eddie knows where England are at the moment; every other country in the world is chasing the All Blacks and he knows what’s needed to close the gap.
“You still need to win your set-piece, there’s no doubt, and Eddie’s made no secret of the fact that scrum and lineout is where it starts. But what he’s also doing is encouraging guys to play what’s in front of them, whether they’re backs or forwards, and take opportunities rather than be completely ‘safety-first’ and structured.
“It’s one step at a time but if you look at the Argentina tour, England were very good off turnover ball in broken field situations. In the past England’s first reaction has probably been to kick the ball away, but if there’s an opportunity then take it and someone like Mike Brown was a great example of that in our last Test out there.
“Browny hit the line, made breaks and we got in on the back of that, and that’s where New Zealand are so dangerous. We don’t want to copy them because that wouldn’t be right, but England are becoming a more clinical team.”
Ella drew heavy criticism in his homeland for accepting a role with England, with Australia head coach Michael Cheika questioning the Randwick man’s allegiances prior to England inflicting a fourth successive defeat on the Wallabies at Twickenham last December.
However, Ella muses: “It did feel a little strange to be wearing a red rose on my shirt and people certainly found it strange in Australia, but it’s been a fantastic experience and a whole new level from what I was used to coaching at Randwick.
“We beat Australia 3-0 and I actually think a lot of people were quite envious of me at that stage, but it’s water under the bridge with Cheika now and it’s been an exciting time for me.
“There’s nothing stagnant about working with Eddie Jones; he’s cerdentedly tainly got a goal in front of him and he’s working hard towards that 2019 World Cup. He’s pushing himself, the players and the staff hard and it’s been a good cause to be part of.
“To go to Argentina with them this year with a young side and still be successful was hugely satisfying and that’s credit to the systems England have in place and Eddie’s willingness to back those young guys and give them a real chance.
“My role has involved talking to these guys and giving them confidence around their running lines and aspects of their tactical approach.”
Ella admits to being staggered by the depth of talent available to Jones in the absence of high profile Lions stars, with 19-year-olds Tom Curry and Nick Isiekwe gaining their first senior international recognition alongside others who impressed such as Henry Slade and Alex Lozowski.
He said: “Curry turned 19 just before the last Test and I couldn’t believe how young some of those guys on tour were. They’re the future of England rugby, no doubt about that, and if you’re looking to 2019 and the World Cup, these guys have got a couple more years to mature now and, hopefully, they’ll play more Tests and be part of the squad.
“It’s like everything, you’ve got to build depth and there were a lot of young players in Argentina playing their first, second or third Tests. It was by necessity because of the Lions tour and a few established players were injured as well, but you need to build two full squads who can play Test rugby if you want to win a World Cup.”
Ella added: “I thought Henry Slade really stepped up as well. He’s a good player for Exeter but hadn’t played a lot of Test football, so he came in and played well in those two Tests, while Alex Lozowski, from Saracens, impressed me as well.
“A young kid who didn’t get a run but also impressed me was Harry Mallinder. Unfortunately, he didn’t play but that’s all part of the learning experience and if he takes it all in, I’m sure he can be part of the England setup for years to come.
“What a guy like Harry needs to look at is the example of Ben Te’o and Kyle Sinckler. They came to Australia last year and didn’t play, but they took the experience on board, took that into the new season and then became British and Irish Lions.”
While Ella was impressed by England’s young guns in Argentina, he reserves special praise for the older guard who put their Lions snubs behind them.
He said: “The established guys like Danny Care, Dylan Hartley, Chris Robshaw, George Ford and Joe Launchbury were really good and I thought Mike Brown was sensational in that last Test. Those guys could have come in with their heads down but they were invaluable on that tour, which says a lot about their character and desire.
“Fordy’s a professional who knows exactly what he wants and for a young guy to take control at No.10 like he did is exactly what you want.
“He and Owen Farrell over the last year have been amazing and it’ll be great to see them together again in future, but there are so many other guys out there challenging these guys now that it can only be good for Eddie and English rugby.”
New Zealand’s series draw against the Lions has given rise to speculation that Steve Hansen’s side may be embarking on a downward curve.
Ella remains more circumspect, observing: “It was an exciting tour and what the Lions did to New Zealand was actually put some pressure on them and they seemed to falter a little bit. But teams have got to put that on them every time you play them, you can’t just do it for one game and we’ll see how New Zealand react now.
“They could come into the Rugby Championship with real vengeance, but one thing for certain is it will be an enticing prospect when England finally come up against New Zealand next year and Eddie gets his teeth stuck into that challenge.”
Closer to home, Ella admits he is dismayed with the current state of Australian rugby after an unprecedentally poor Super Rugby campaign in which the five franchises lost all 25 regular season matches to New Zealand opposition.
Former Wallaby Rod Kafer has just been appointed as the country’s national coaching development and performance manager, but Ella fears the worst amid continuing doubts over the future of the Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.
“We’re all over the place,” he lamented. “We don’t know what’s happening with the Super Rugby teams, our level of skill is very poor and speaking as an ex-Wallaby and talking to other ex-Wallabies, we can’t believe that these guys are training four or five times a week and yet can’t even do the basics.
“That’s a huge concern for Michael Cheika because what’s happening in the franchises just isn’t good enough.”
On Kafer’s appointment and whether he would be prepared to answer a call to help, Ella, 58, added: “Kafe’s got a good view on rugby and is very knowledgeable, but he’s somehow got to try and translate that into action.
“We can’t keep talking about it, we’ve got to get back to basics, get the grassroots sorted out and start developing players there. People have asked why I’m helping England and not Australia, but the simple truth is nobody in Australia’s asked me. Cheika knows my number and people at the Australian union know my number, so they only need to ask.
“Whoever is in charge, we’re all still passionate Australians and want to see Australia doing really well again.”
Ella has yet to be summoned by England for this autumn’s campaign, but said: “I’d certainly be keen to carry on but that’s up to Eddie and English rugby.
“I’m just really happy to have been involved on the occasions I have already and if another opportunity comes my way, I’d be delighted.”