Sorry Eddie, but having co-captains is a mistake
RUGBY EXCLUSIVE – PAGE 95
EddIE JoNES has announced as strong an England squad as possible given injuries — with almost no selection I can quibble over — but I just don’t understand this co-captain business.
Twelve months out from the World Cup, it over- complicates matters and is unnecessary. Now is the time to keep things simple. It is a mistake and just another distraction, which is the story of England in 2018.
People, especially players, like to know who the England captain is. Who is the spokesman for the team? Who sits at the top table doing the media? Who is in charge? Who do the refs communicate with as the captain? This muddies the waters.
Alas, I fear it means that dylan Hartley will continue to come off after 55-60 minutes in every game with owen Farrell, as the cocaptain, taking the armband.
As previously discussed, I hate to see any captain leave the fray early unless injured — or unless the team are 40-50 points clear. In fact, every side need their main players to stay on for the full 80 minutes.
Taking into account the absentees through injury, I’d say England’s main players are Hartley, Maro Itoje, owen Farrell and Elliot daly. They are the players who I would want on for the full 80.
Jamie George is a very fine player but recently we have seen — in his absence — how important a fully-fit Hartley is as hooker and front-five forward, let alone as captain.
But this is a really solid selection from Eddie. Unlike many, I don’t share in the uproar about the omission of danny Cipriani, whose cause I have previously supported. Ever since the Jersey incident, the writing has been on the wall.
That process has been helped by the growing realisation that Farrell must be fly-half now and at the World Cup. once that call has been made, there are knock-on effects.
Cipriani is a firstchoice fly- half, the man who runs the show, and if that role is already taken his usefulness to the squad is reduced.
If you are looking for a back-up starting flyhalf in case of injury to Farrell, it becomes a choice between George Ford and Cipriani. The former has done little wrong for England and much good. He has 47 caps over the last four or five years and doesn’t make the headlines for his off-field activities.
In Alex Lozowski and Henry Slade, England have two other players who, if not starting, can cover 10, 12 and 13 on the bench. Both are quick and talented enough to possibly cover wing and full-back as well. England have a myriad of options for behind the scrum.
Elsewhere, Ben Morgan’s recall makes sense — he has looked fit and well-motivated for Gloucester and when he is in that mood he can make big yardage from No 8.
Morgan was one of England’s better players in the autumn prior to the last World Cup, before injury struck and Billy Vunipola came to the fore. He has been a bit of an under-utilised talent over the years, so this could be an unexpected chance for him to rectify that.
I am yet to see young flanker Ted Hill play in the flesh, but I have noted a couple of glowing references in reports. He is listed as an apprentice, another term I am not keen on, although it is much less of an issue than the co-captaincy.
This autumn is going to be full-on and torrid, and I would want all the players in the squad ‘good to go’ in the Tests if need be. It might be that Hill is already considered in those terms, but for me an apprentice should be learning his trade with his club and England Saxons, although sadly there are so few Saxons matches and tours these days.
Still, it’s a great opportunity and I hope Hill gets his head down, helps raise the levels at training and soaks up everything before returning to Worcester an even better player.