England explain reverting back to Ford and dropping half of their beaten Six Nations pack
Eddie Jones has explained why he has altered half of his starting pack following the shock England loss to Scotland last weekend, adding that the inclusion of George Ford to start this week at out-half is the best approach for his Six Nations team versus Italy.
Eyebrows were raised last week when Jones opted to bench Ford and instead switch captain Owen Farrell into out-half from inside centre, a selection that allowed him to field an experimental Test midfield partnership of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade.
This gambit failed to fire, England beaten 11-6 in a Six Nations performance that left much to be desired. It sparked calls for Farrell to be dropped but having unequivocally backed his captain at a media appearance on Tuesday, Jones instead opted to switch his leader back to No12 and omit Lawrence.
“Just think that is the right balance for the game,” he said. “We know that George and Owen operate well at ten and twelve. We’d like to get Henry into the game more, so that is the right balance for this game.
“Difficult game for him,” he added about the axed Lawrence, who falls out of the matchday 23 entirely. “He is a young guy learning his trade. This is all part of learning his trade. He is going to be a great player for us.”
5 changes for England, including the return of Ford#ENGvITA #SixNationshttps://t.co/p9ojL885iI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2021
England struggled for physical dominance against the Scots and with Mako Vunipola fit again and Kyle Sinckler finished his suspension, Jones has used their availability to go with an all-changed front row as Luke Cowan-Dickie has also come in at hooker for his first Six Nations start.
Cowan-Dickie’s three previous starts in his 27-cap Test career came in two World Cup warm-ups and against the USA at the finals in Japan. “Just a change on roles. He is going to finish,” said Jones about the demotion of George to the bench.
Regarding the props, he added: “They bring a lot of experience, a lot of nous. The scrummaging area is always difficult. Traditionally it has been difficult against Italy and we expect the same on Saturday. They [Vunipola and Sinckler] bring that (experience) plus their aggression and calmness.”
Jones’ other pack alteration will see Courtney Lawes start at blindside in place of Mark Wilson and he believes his rejigged team will now make amends for last weekend’s ambush by the Scots. “We’re only worried about ourselves. We’re not too worried about Italy. As you know we are coming off a disappointing loss against Scotland so we have really focused on ourselves.
“Last week we got the information wrong. We have just tried to get the information right this week which will aid in our thinking and get us back playing front-foot rugby which we are at our best at. We are one of the most damaging teams in the world and that is what we want to get back to.
“We want to be on the front foot the whole game and that pack allows us to do that. Then we have got to be able to take those opportunities and turn them into points. That’s the priority this week.
“I got the information wrong last week. We got our priorities wrong in terms of the game and we have tried to sort that out this week. We want to play good English rugby where we are as close to our best as we can be. That involves having good set-piece, good defence and then being able to take those opportunities to come and attack and turn those opportunities into points.”
Asked if he had considered including uncapped duo Paolo Odogwu and Harry Randall for this Saturday’s game, Jones replied: “Everyone came into consideration. We want to get back on the front foot and we believe this is best 23 to get us back on the front foot.
“All of those guys you have mentioned have all been given strong consideration and they understand what they need to keep working on. Both those guys that you specifically mentioned they are both making inroads, both making progress and each week they get a little bit closer.”
"I can’t think of a better England team to beat Italy and put smiles back on people’s faces than this one"
– @AndyGoode10 reckons it is time for Eddie Jones to ring the changes #SixNations #ENGvITAhttps://t.co/81E1yj8ryA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 10, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Surely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
12 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
12 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
18 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game. I’d start Jordan with his brother Jaden. Masuku and Nohamba off the bench.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
1 Go to commentsLet’s examine what might be irking the brainless E: Up until 20 years before this coming Julys tests: 16 games: 14 wins for SA; 1 win for Ire; 1 draw From 20 years until July’ tests Ireland V SA: 13 matches Ireland won 8; SA won 4; 1 draw Points scored Ireland 261; SA 189 Ave Winning Margin: Ireland 11 points; SA 4 points (away 3, home 6) Away win record: Ireland 33.33%; SA 25% Neutral matches 1: Ireland win RWC France 2023. Last SA win June 2016 (8 years ago) They boast 3 World cups in that period (they do boast). The above record is not good, probably not much better than theirs against NZ for same period. That’s why the dopey E is starting fights in his head. He will probably ship a yellow when things don’t go their way in the first test.
127 Go to commentsGoode is like a wet fart on The Rugby Pod and should be shoved aside. Jim knows what he is on about and can get on better without Goode’s nasty little cheap shots.
127 Go to commentsBrumbies will win, crusaders are pretty awful this year
1 Go to commentsThis has the makings of a good match. That’s Leinster’s second team but its a good one (stronger than the teams in SA recently). Ulster are really turning a page. Ryan back is huge, and Keenan too. This could be a cracker.
1 Go to commentsThe Farrells are one of the great father and son combinations. Andy was an RL great, and had he played Union as his first sport, I would be sure he would have been avery significant forcewas in League. And Owen, a Union great, who had he played League, would could have been a great there too i all probability. I feel my attitude to Owen has mellowed as he has aged, and in the post Jones era, evolved and shown his full range of talents. He really is an all round player, and I have wold hope his move to France will be successful. He may even be the piece in the jigsaw that Racing need to rise to challenge Toulouse and LAR. He is ofc now approaching 33 years of age but should still have enough left to make a big contribution in France for at least2/3 years.
45 Go to commentsI reckon it may be Jordan at 10 and Nohamba at 9, both players have played together alot and both have been on the Radar for a long time. After Pollard got injured in 2022 with Elton sidelined on a path of self destruction Erasmus and Nienaber indicated that the other options in the country at the time were thin but that Jordan and Manie were the 2 they were looking at. In the end Frans steyn played flyhalf, Willemse slotted in there on the end of year with Libbok as back up. Jordan was right there in the thinking back then so expect him to take the Jersey either as the starter.
2 Go to commentsHaha did he also* say it in a sarcastic teacher sort of manor or was it the petulant English snob sort of wail?
45 Go to commentsWell said Mils. It is a big boost at last having Fergus Burke back at 10 for the Crusaders. Had a great season last year as the article says. Mils is also right about captain Codie Taylor’s performance in his return to the Crusaders last week. He was all class.
4 Go to commentsLet’s make them both Capt. I think we'd get the best of both of them and it would help alleviate some of the pressures of the role. They'd have to confer over on field decisions which should lead to “ learnings “ for both. They are our two best consistent performers.
16 Go to commentsOur best player by far..but not a good Captain..poor tactician cost the AB'S and Canes games by not taking the easy points and going for tries when the lineouts were a shambles..can he read a game? And his throat slitting gesture should disqualify him from the AB Captaincy..it is not the appropriate behaviour of an AB Captain.
16 Go to comments