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Whenever I have seen the venerable Mr Zavos mention England in a Roar headline I have resigned myself to yet another tirade aimed at my country’s team.
Obviously, this is an Australian-based website so what do the majority here care but, as an Englishman who has stood to applaud Australians off the Twickenham turf, I wonder how the current side will be greeted when they step out in Brisbane.
Is the default reaction that the Aussies will boo England because, well, it’s England?
Perhaps England’s style doesn’t or has never warranted a southern hemisphere approval. A lot of English supporters wear my nation’s near-global dislike as a badge of honour like some futuristic Leeds United team with, ahem, footballers of ability, but the Aussie reaction seems like a well-rehearsed pantomime whenever we visit the southern hemisphere – irrespective the squad or coaches.
Foolishly, Stuart Lancaster tried his utmost to portray the English team as one of near-Biblical righteousness whereas, in reality, as supporters, we don’t really care too much. Certainly, being liked would be at the bottom of my list of priorities for the national team!
Ironically, Eddie’s brash yet good-humoured approach to the position has seen accusations of hubris hurled at him rather than, as has been the case in the past, the England players. After all, it’s rarely considered arrogance when an Antipodean is being bullish, it’s likely to be considered swagger underpinned by a good old fashioned competitive spirit.
Irrespective, bear in mind that Eddie’s changes in personnel for the Six Nations were numerically limited by the constraints of the EPS. I wouldn’t be surprised now if Eddie dropped a few “established” stars in order to better mould the team to his way of thinking and to give the side the best possible chance of competing on the harder Australian surfaces.
It’s a long shot but given the talent soon to be available to Jones, I’d be tempted to try Elliot Daly at 15 if he’s not going to play at outside centre. He’s a lot quicker than Mike Brown, can and will pass and has a prodigious kick. He’d be but one option in that position.
Contrary to a previous submission on another England-related thread – and irrespective any reservations in respect of the residency rule – Nathan Hughes won’t be available to England until the autumn so won’t tour Australia.
Sam Underhill is a once-in-a-generation talent in his position. I envisage the so-called exceptional circumstances clause to be invoked prior to the Australian tour in order to ensure that Wales-based Underhill tours with England given that he could conceivably play for England, Wales or the United States.
Neither Danny Care or Ben Youngs are the answer at scrum half. They provide moments of undoubted skill and vision offset by moments of sheer dimwittedness. Stephen Hawking has surely noted that both are intermittently denser than a black hole. Sam Robson will eventually find a starting berth in that position.
Dave Ewers will probably come into contention as a massive ball carrier to take the burden off Billy Vunipola and I see Manu Tuliagi playing a similar role at inside rather than outside centre, albeit off the bench. I believe the hugely talented Henry Slade, having recovered from a broken leg, will be in Eddie’s plans for Australia as the lad can comfortably play 10, 12 or 13.
Maro Itoje is already very good yet George Kruis was arguably even better during the Six Nations. Ignore their collective abilities at your peril.
England will be back as serious challengers to New Zealand in the next couple of years. The upcoming tour to Oz is possibly too soon to gauge the trajectory towards that goal but there are some seriously gifted players emerging from the ranks of their U20 World Cup winning sides of 2013 and 2014.
I’ll be the first to admit that junior success doesn’t necessarily translate itself into senior honours but there is now such a raft of them in the wings that I’m supremely confident (without any semblance of English arrogance) that England will soon be in a position to consistently challenge the southern hemisphere sides home and away.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.