Eddie ready to opt for reputation over form
IF IT all came down to form, the England Six Nations squad named on Thursday would have a fresh and unfamiliar look.
In the back row alone there would be all manner of surprises. Based on club performances since the autumn Tests, Alex Dombrandt wouldn’t just be in the training camp, he’d be starting at blindside against Ireland in Dublin on February 2. The Harlequins rookie scored another try on Saturday. He’s the prolific sensation of the season, a big, raw, explosive force of nature with an instinctive grasp of the game.
He could be a World Cup bolter, but in reality he’ll do well to make the wider squad. At this stage, e, reputation will count above form. Brad Shields is among those whose face just fits. He came out of the New Zealand system straight into the England set-up for a debut in South Africa last June. Since then, he has hardly pulled up any trees on behalf of Wasps but Eddie Jones rates him highly.
On form, Dombrandt has been head and shoulders above Shields. The same could be said of Sale’s Jono Ross, who routinely tops carrying and tackling charts. He has been a machine of backrow industry, but a Test debut is not apparently in the offing.
The reputation-over-form equation also counts against the likes of Matt Kvesic and the endlessly heralded but overlooked Don Armand, two stalwarts of the Exeter pack.
Instead, Chris Robshaw might be considered, despite having been out injured since October. Mark Wilson has a shoulder problem but Newcastle expect him to be fit for the Six Nations, and as he proved in November, he brings vital utility value.
With Sam Underhill unavailable, Tom Curry must be favourite to start at openside against Ireland. His twin brother Ben has been similarly superb for Sale this season but England see a gap between the siblings, one not always visible to other observers.
Teimana Harrison has been a revitalised asset to Northampton but it would be a shock to see him earn a Test recall now.
Reputation over form means sadly there will be no room for Saracens’ artful dodger Alex Goode, and probably not for Danny Cipriani either. It means Ben Te’o will make the cut, but fellow Worcester centre Ryan Mills — enjoying a fine campaign — will not.
Another in-form midfielder is Sam James of Sale, but don’t expect to see him in a Red Rose tracksuit any time soon either.
Mike Brown and Dan Cole are in a rare category, having both reputation and form on their side. Both veterans who fell into autumn exile could find themselves back in the fold.
At this stage, Jones knows what he wants. The bolters will find that the door is now barely ajar. THIS column has criticised Anglo-Saxon referees for failing to communicate in French during matches involving French teams, so it was heartening to note some positive exceptions to the rule on Saturday. English official Luke Pearce occasionally used French words and terms when in charge of Leinster v Toulouse, and Wayne Barnes frequently demonstrated his linguistic skills in the Toulon-Edinburgh match. Others should be forced to follow suit. Fluency is not expected but the gesture of learning a few key phrases must be a minimum requirement. Then, in time, Italian and Spanish too...