Back row battle so important – Eddie
England boss picks two number eights to tackle historic strength of All Blacks
EDDIE Jones insists England are ready to take on New Zealand’s historical strength after picking two number eights for tomorrow’s Twickenham showdown.
Billy Vunipola and Sam Simmonds, both specialists in the position, have been selected in a back row, which is completed by Tom Curry, for the first clash with the All Blacks since a crushing win for England in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
Maro Itoje moves back to lock to make room for Simmonds at blindside flanker and the three changes in personnel to the side that thumped Japan 52-13 are completed by the return of wing Jack Nowell and centre Manu Tuilagi.
It is the make-up of the back row that is most intriguing, however, with Simmonds’ last start at flanker coming in the Premiership five years ago. However, they were paired together when Vunipola came on for the final quarter of last week’s rout that nudged England’s autumn back on track having fallen to Argentina in the series opener.
Jones, pictured, said: “It’s horses for courses against New Zealand. If you look at the history of the game, New Zealand’s strength is their back row. Their most talismanic players have always been their back rows.
“Look at Graham Mourie, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Wayne Shelford, Zinzan Brooke. We feel that battle is going to be important in the game.
“Sam gives us a little bit more mobility and a little bit more contest at the breakdown, which again is going to be important.
“Billy’s job is to get us over the gain line. If you can get over the gain line against New Zealand then you can
present problems for their defence and Billy has got the opportunity to do that.”
The tweaks to the back five reduce the number of line-out jumpers from three to two just a week after Jones insisted that a trio of options at the set-piece is essential.
“Ideally we would have three jumpers, but we just feel we need that contest in the back row for this week,” Jones said.
“Maro’s preferred position is definitely lock, but he can play six. We’re pleased with the way Alex Coles is developing, but for this game we feel that’s the best balanced pack.”
Jack van Poortvliet’s selection ahead of Ben Youngs heralds a changing of the guard at scrumhalf, with the 21-year-old rookie preferred over his Leicester teammate for the main event of the autumn.
Meanwhile, Owen Farrell will join Youngs and Jason Leonard in the small band of England Test centurions. Jones added: “Owen brings people with him like Richie McCaw did for New Zealand.”
England: F Steward (Leicester); J Nowell (Exeter), M Tuilagi (Sale), O Farrell (Saracens, captain), J May (Gloucester); M Smith (Harlequins), J van Poortvliet (Leicester); E Genge (Bristol), L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), K Sinckler (Bristol), M Itoje (Saracens), J Hill (Sale), S Simmonds (Exeter), T Curry (Sale), B Vunipola (Saracens). Reps: J George (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), W Stuart (Bath), D Ribbans (Northampton), J Willis (unattached), B Youngs (Leicester), G Porter (Leicester), H Slade (Exeter).