EDDIE READY TO WIELD AXE
Coach could bring in more bulk to counter Bastareaud and Co
EDDIE JONES warned that no england player is safe as he considers breaking up his tried and tested midfield to tackle France.
Although the Australian has picked George Ford and owen Farrell to start alongside each other in 20 of his 26 Tests so far, Jones said: ‘I’m not wedded to anything. no one’s indispensable. It’s the same with me. I’m not indispensable. The players understand that. They’ve got to play and perform. Who’s at 10 and 12 will be done on who we think it best for this game.’
The england head coach also revealed that the Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland is still keeping him up at night.
‘Last night I woke up at 4am,’ he said. ‘I can’t sleep because it annoys me losing a game we shouldn’t have lost.
‘I don’t have anxiety, I have thoughts about what we have got to fix and how we are going to fix it. I have coached for 20 years. If I was anxious for 20 years I would be dead.’
Jones’ players may be worried ahead of Thursday’s selection for Paris, though.
‘There’s an old story about a coach with a bucket of water in his office,’ Jones added.
‘He’d say, “Come here son, put your hand in this bucket”. When the player took it out he’d say, “What’s happened?” Your hand creates a hole but as soon as your hand comes out the hole’s filled in. no one’s indispensable.’
Ford has largely been that for Jones, playing more than anyone under the Australian’s leadership — 1,950 minutes, an average of 75 per match.
But if Jones does mix up his midfield it would be likely that Ford drops out, Farrell moves to fly-half and Ben Te’o fills the hole at inside centre.
In the last two years Jones has only fielded what could be regarded as a big, bashing no 12 twice — both occasions in the summer of 2016 when he picked Luther Burrell with Jonathan Joseph outside. That tactic was brutally scrapped when Burrell was hauled off after 30 minutes in Brisbane and Ford replaced him.
So, if tempted, a change of tack would be a significant departure from a style that has won england 24 of 26 Tests under Jones. When Te’o has started he has worn no 13.
With wild weather expected at the Stade de France on Saturday though, Jones could plump for more bulk, especially with 20st mathieu Bastareaud lining up at centre. ‘There is very heavy rain forecast for Friday and Saturday,’ he said. ‘We all know the Stade de France is a heavy pitch anyway, and with heavy rain it will be even heavier, so it will be a “slogathon”. We could pick a team to play a “slogathon”.
‘Bastareaud at his best is an exceptional player. He does things no other centres in the world can do.’
england have won those types of tight, physical matches before with Ford and Farrell, so Jones may back them once more. The return of elliot Daly after ankle and calf trouble adds other options at centre or wing.
Certainly Jones knows the French will be fired up. He said: ‘Bernard Laporte, who is a fairly influential figure in French rugby, said it is never over until you play the english. Their mindset is that this is their Grand Final.
‘They can have a great Six nations or a poor Six nations depending on this game. They will be very physical and aggressive. Jacques Brunel picks big teams, very big teams.
‘But there’s a lot of grit, focus and pride in this team. To win 24 games out of 26 you’ve got to have a bit about you. The leaders are starting to be more influential — they’re starting to lead — and that’s a big development within this team.’