EDDIE’S WORLD CUP WHIZZ-KIDS
Coach Jones denies he’s taking big a gamble with his rookie backline but admits he’s now looking ahead to France next year
EDDIE JONES has denied he is taking a punt by throwing in a bunch of rookies for the second Test against Australia in Brisbane tomorrow.
Jones has rolled the dice by re-shaping his backline and handing debuts to centre Guy Porter and wing Tommy Freeman and a first start to scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet.
England are taking on the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium, where the Aussies haven’t lost in 10 games, with three 21-year-olds – Freeman, Freddie Steward and Van Poortvliet – in the backs. But Jones (right) refuted suggestions he was taking a chance, with England 1-0 down, and claimed he was setting his sights on next year’s World Cup.
“If you want to listen to those people who say it’s a gamble, it’s a gamble,” said Jones. “If you listen to me, you’ll say it’s a judgement call, as selection always is. Is this the best team for this week? Are the players all ready? These are all judgements we are making.
“They’re in form and have been playing a consistently high level of rugby. This is the future of the team – an experienced pack and a young backline that’ll take us to the World Cup. It’s a pressure game, isn’t it? Once you get to the quarter-final of the World Cup, they are all pressure games so it’s great practice for us. Everything is geared towards the World Cup.
“It always has been and always will be.”
Jones also has a 6/2 split on the bench with just Danny Care and Henry Arundell as backs substitutes. But Freeman has been on fire for Northampton this year, scoring eight tries in his last six Premiership starts. England captain Courtney Lawes, a teammate of Freeman’s at Franklin’s Gardens, will be playing his 100th Test, including five for the Lions.
And Lawes backed the youngster to take it to the Australian backline this weekend. He said: “There’s pretty much nothing he doesn’t have that you need as a winger. He’s very fast, very strong, he’s got great hands, he’s good at kicking, and he’s very tall so he’s good in the air as well.”
Full-back Steward has only 11 caps but he and Marcus Smith are veterans compared to the rest of the backline, barring Owen Farrell and Jack Nowell.
And Steward has backed Porter, who was raised in Australia, to add some punch to England’s midfield that is missing when Manu Tuilagi is not about.
Steward said: “Guy is someone who can get over the gainline. He has done it all season for us and he will be a real asset.”