Shields at the ready to bring edge to back row
BRAD Shields aims to provide Eddie Jones with exactly what he wants by bringing some hard-nosed Kiwi physicality to England’s back row operation.
Red Rose supremo Jones likes his No.6s to be hardworking and dominant. More than that, he wants them to be ruthless, which is why Wasps new boy Shields and Saracens’ Michael Rhodes have been fast-tracked into his squad.
Shields, a commanding force for the Hurricanes for the past seven seasons before moving to England in search of Test recognition, vows to deliver.
He said: “Any sort of back rower has to have a whole lot of hard edge because they’ve got to have the all-round game these days. You’re a ball-carrier, a defender and you’ve got to win your lineout – and you’ve got to be tough about it because if you’re a bit off, you’ll be found out.
“Eddie is really big on the basics and he wants you to do the small things really well. If you do that it contributes to the team and you’ll come away with the win, so I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’ll try to provide the edge he wants.”
Eyebrows were raised when Shields was plucked from the midst of a Super Rugby season in New Zealand ahead of worthy homegrown candidates and parachuted into England’s summer tour of South Africa, where he won his first two caps.
He said: “Being honest, it was a challenge. But what made it really easy was the group of guys that were there. It’s in the back of your mind that there might be some animosity but I was happy with the way the guys got in around me.
“It’s not often you go to a new team and that weekend you’re playing a game at that sort of level against South Africa, but they made sure I knew my role and the subtleties of the game plan so I could just get on with playing my game.
“Apart from missing the last Test through illness it was an amazing tour to be on and a great opportunity to play international footy. That was the aim coming here and I’m ready to compete and play more games.”
Training ground collisions between Shields and the equally hard-nosed Rhodes promise to be off the scale as they fight for England’s No.6 jersey.
While Shields relishes the notion of facing New Zealand next month, he knows business has to start with a victory over the visiting Springboks.
“I’d love to play against New Zealand at Twickenham in front of a sold-out crowd,” Shields said.
“To be part of that would be massive for myself and my family, but first we would love to make amends for a couple of performances in South Africa where we should have come away with a win.”