WHO WILL SURVIVE THE CHOP?
After a brutal World Cup training camp in America, it’s decision time for Lancaster...
ENGLAND’S players reconvened at their Surrey HQ last night after a precious few days off, ready to hurl themselves into a make-or-break week in the World Cup countdown. The next cull is looming.
Stuart Lancaster and his assistant coaches have had a month of ‘gruelling’ training time to assess their leading men and having already released four from the initial squad of 50, another group will receive dreaded news by Friday.
Up to nine players will go back to their clubs before the first warm-up fixture against France at Twickenham on August 15. For some, dreams are about to be cruelly shattered . . .
PUSHED TO THE LIMIT
ANDY FARRELL, England’s assistant coach, described the camp in Denver, where players were put through up to four sessions per day, as ‘brutal’. Conditions in Colorado were a variation on what their World Cup rivals Wales encountered during stints in Switzerland and Qatar — altitude and heat.
While the coaches sought to ensure the tournament hosts will have supreme fitness levels, the emphasis was on decision-making and execution under pressure.
Their target was to ensure captain Chris Robshaw and his squad think clearly and play with precision in the crucial closing stages of games. Lancaster admires the All Blacks’ consistency in this regard, so he and his staff are seeking to put players under extreme stress, to gauge how they respond.
Initially, the onus was on strength and cardiovascular training but in the second week the contact and rugby- specific work began in earnest. England were able to deploy three separate XVs to simulate match scenarios and rotate players through positions and combinations. They also spent time analysing footage to reinforce strategic points, including clips of Bath opening up Leicester’s defence, New Zealand attacking the short side against Argentina recently and the Australia v South Africa Rugby Championship clash.
BALANCING ACT
LANCASTER recognised the need to avoid simply ‘flogging’ his squad. The New Zealand tour last June ended in a heavy defeat amid grumbles about excessive control of the players outside of training.
In Denver, there were some precious days off, in glorious surroundings in the Rockies. Players enjoyed quad biking, kayaking, fishing and golf, trips to watch baseball or films, or visits to the city. Able to unwind, morale was high, despite the competition for places.
Feedback from the squad is that the work-rest balance was good, which meant they stayed mentally fresh, even though their bodies were feeling the strain. Footage of a raucous sing-along on the team bus suggests spirits were high.
THE VERDICT
THERE have been extensive guidelines issued to the squad about use of Twitter and players provided updates on social media which illustrated the rigorous nature of their work in the States.
Flanker James Haskell is renowned for his commitment to training, but he said: ‘Hardest training camp I’ve ever been part of . . . Boys have been amazing.’
Bath’s cross- code recruit, Sam Burgess, struck a similar tone, saying: ‘What an awesome two weeks training in Denver . . . Tough, uncompromising and fun.’ Northampton flanker Tom Wood added: ‘Colorado, it’s been a pleasure. Some of the toughest training of my career to date.’
Several rookies offered an honest insight into the ferocity of the training regime in 32°C in the thin mountain air. Matt Kvesic said: ‘This place is too hot to train! Looking forward to some English air!’ Kieran Brookes offered this succinct summary: ‘Toughest two weeks of my life in Denver! Bodies in tatters.’
WHAT NEXT?
IT IS crunch time this week for several players while for the coaches, tough decisions must be confirmed. On Friday, the squad is due to be cut again; from 46 to 37/38. Lancaster has lined up oneto-one meetings with every player — in keeping with his fundamental principle that bad news should be conveyed face-to-face, in private.
As ever, there is a dilemma about the midfield contingent, with
Sportsmail reporting last week that Burgess is due to start at inside centre at home to France. It is understood Billy Twelvetrees and Kyle Eastmond are set to be jettisoned, so Burgess, Luther Burrell and Henry Slade are potentially competing for two places, with Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph certain to be included.
With so many wingers in contention, Chris Ashton, Marland Yarde, Jonny May and Semesa Rokoduguni will face major scrutiny. Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell are the incumbents and both can cover full back. Up front, Tom Youngs is the clear first- choice hooker in the absence of Dylan Hartley, and Rob Webber is destined to be his understudy, with Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie vying for the final squad place.
There is also a close call to be made with the props, as Lions hero Alex Corbisiero is nominally behind Joe Marler and Mako Vunipola in the loosehead rankings and may be in a battle for one place with Brookes — who is regarded by the coaches as an emerging force.
At lock, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury are the front-runners, with Dave Attwood, Geoff Parling and George Kruis seemingly contesting two further spots. Versatility is a valuable asset, so in the back row Haskell and Calum Clark — who is said to have made a strong impression in Denver — could have the edge over Kvesic, a specialist openside, and veteran No 8 Nick Easter, who missed the recent trip with a back strain.