After Danny Cipriani’s mature and masterly debut in the English number ten jersey against Ireland on Saturday, is there a place in an English backline Jonny Wilkinson?
England’s victory in the last round of the Six Nations came on the back of an all-round performance by the young fly half. With a backline eager to make use of its hard won field position, the English forward pack were delighted to see their efforts fully capitalised on.
Gone was the drop-kick minded stodginess that has clouded Brian Ashton’s reign. Where Wilko would have seen an open touchline to kick to, Cipriani saw a gap to send his outside players running into.
The difference between this performance and the previous week’s shambles at Murrayfield was glaring. And it all revolved around Cipriani’s willingness to be more than just a fly half, but a playmaker.
Cipriani lacks nothing as a rugby player. His performances for Wasps, where he has been such a sensation in the Guinness Premiership, have confirmed that. Now we know he can take his game up to international level as well.
So where to for Wilko?
A great kicker though he may be, Wilkinson’s poor performances this year have shown a dangerously limited ball-in-hand game. A discrepancy in his game that many southern hemisphere rugby pundits have alluded to previously.
Few international reserve benches can carry a spare flyhalf who doesn’t really cover any other positions as well. Wilkinson hasn’t the speed, the hands or the creativity to play at 12 or 13 and has nowhere near the explosiveness to play at full back.
So where to for Wilko? Can English rugby finally stop looking backwards and come out of the shadow of Clive Woodward’s 2003 team.
Ian Noble
Guest
The Reiver I couldn't agree more with either Dean Richards or Dean Ryan but it looks as though Shaun Edwards is tied to Wales until 2012. Tait's tackle count in the RWC final was one of the highest, none missed and he is renowned for his improved defence. I saw Abendanon on Saturday Quins v Bath and he took all the high balls in difficult conditions, high wind and heavy rain. However Quins have Brown (23) @ full back who had an excellent game he made a number of telling breaks inaddition to his fullback duties. He went on the SA tour last year and whilst it was a diffficult tour he gained alot from the experience. Your view on inside centre or second five eigth is interesting. There is a view that JW should take that position and certainly on Saturday after he can on he made a significant impact. The other classic No 12 is Mike Catt, still playing for London Irish as player coach. Interestingly Shane Geharty plays with MC is learning alot from the old master. There is also Olly Barkely (25) and Charlie Hodgson (25) who both are contenders in the England squad @ No 12. There are certainly a number of exciting young backs in the GP and the problem for the coaches is deciding who can step up to the Test Team. They have gained alot for the foreign players and are not in awe of the AB's or other SH countries which might have been the case a few years ago. The pipeline of new talent appears to be getting better. The U20's, who will compete in the U20RWC later this year, have just completed a grand slam of their 6 Ns tournament by a record points margin. Most of the squad have had some GP experience and it will be interesting to see how many come through before RWC2011. Ashton although his natural leaning would be to introduce more youngsters has tempered his approach with retaining some experience but are they in the right areas. I am not sure. While I remember there is one centre who is under rated and if Shaun Edwards was involved with England he would press the case for Dom Waldouck (20) fast feet, excellent rugby brain and will hopefully come through in the next year or so.
The Reiver
Guest
Why do we need Jake White when we've got enough home grown coaching talent available ? My dream is to see Dean Ryan (Gloucester) or Dean Richards (Quins) in charge with Sean Edwards (Wasps & Taffs) as assistant. Ian, I could so pick that dream back line of yours apart. Flood, Tait (midfield tackling weakness), Abendanon (high ball weakness) Danny Cipriani needs experienced players along side him to develop. He has only reached test level thanks to the Wasps purchase of Ricky Flutey and the re-juvenation of Fraser Waters. When Flutey got injured he was a lost soul. The same applies at test level. he needs an experienced inside centre to work with. Wilkinson was never a playmaker. He has never been the same force since Will Greenwood retired. Most of Englands inventiveness came through Greenwood after the first pass from Wilkinson. I can draw comparisons with Stephen Larkhams first steps into the test arena. I believe he started at Full Back in 1996 before moving to fly half in 1997. But I wonder what sort of test fly half he would have made without Horan and Little in the centres to guide his early steps and take the pressure off when needed. That is my main concern. Does England have the sort of centres he needs to give him the freedom to create. Noon & Tindall are bangers (and pretty good ones). Flood, Tait etc. are too inexperienced and have their own shortfalls to work on before they can be regarded as world class test centres. Maybe Wilkinson would be ideal for the inside centre roll as a pressure release valve for Cipriani. It's where he learnt his trade playing alongside Rob Andrew at Newcastle. As for pace, Greenwood never had any and he did pretty well over the years. The ability to make plays supercedes sprinting speed. There is a possibility that Shane Gehrity (London Irish) may be ideal but again he has the same experience level as Cipriani. England have a wealth of young talent (more than I've ever seen before) but they need veteran guidance in some areas
Ian Noble
Guest
Sam The true test for these young players is to play a series of test matches abroad. Although the new agreement between the clubs and the RFU does not kick in until after the NZ tour. There is a feeling that Englands tour party should be strong and whether they win or lose it really does not matter it is all about building momentum and finding out who of the new breed has the mental strength for teat match rugby. It will be good for these players to be away on tour as it will build team spirit. Ashton who knows these players well having been in charge of the RFU academy will be pushing for a younger squad. Incidently he has known Cips since he was 14. The problem at the moment is whether Ashton will still be Englands Head coach, alot of speculation that Jake White is to take over. England back line might be Danny Care (21)/Harry Ellis (25), Cips (20), Strettle (24), Flood (22), Tait (22), Varndell (23) and Abendadon (22). A bit of wishful thinking as Noon (28) and Sackey (27) have been playing well,and don't forget Big Les a lovely guy and not a bad rugger player should tour NZ.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Hi Ian I would like to think that most people south of the equator know that there are many talented young players and don't necessarily view the rugby world through black coloured lenses, or gold colour lenses. What will surprise people more than anything will be if a full strength touring side is selected to tour in June and also if Ashton is brave enough to select these players and give them their head against NZ. Previous teams would trumpet their latest excitement machine only to leave them wallowing on the bench or in the stands as part of their "development" instead of testing them against some of the best players in the world in their own backyard. Forgetting what laws the tests will be played under in June, an English backline comprising the talents of Cipriani, Tait, Flood and Strettle against the likes of Carter, Toeava, Sivivatu, Rocokoko and Muliaina is exactly what will get more people through the turnstiles and excited about tests again. Then when NZ tour the UK in November it offers a tantalising chance to see them all in action again - just what the international game needs. Now if we have unearthed a quality tighthead prop to challenge Sheridan in the scrums, then there will be something there for everyone.
Ian Noble
Guest
Spiro Cipriani spent all last season at fullback for the Wasps displacing Lewsey and his defence came on in leaps and bounds.It is only this season that he nailed the fly half position with King moving to France. I don't really see his defence as a weakness,(he is coached by Shaun Edwards) but he certainly offers more than JW. JW's future role might be as inside centre or second five eigth in SH palance. Cips is fast and along with Haskell, Croft, Tait and Flood there are number of young very fast forwards and backs coming through the ranks with very valuable GP experience. It will be interesting to see how they perform v AB's in June., if Ashton picks them. They may surprise a few people and give you another slant on English rugby.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
Paul Ackford, the former England player (a towering second-rower) and rugby columnist for The Sunday Telegraph), is plumping for Eddie Jones, ahead of Jake White, as England's coach. Perhaps we shouldn't try to discourage this nonsense and allow England to have the sort of seasons 'enjoyed' by the Wallabies and the Reds. Daniel Cipriani is a much better five-eighths than Jonny Wilkinson. He stands relatively flat and passes flat. He also has good feet and is quite fast, making him a threat as a passer and a runner for even the best of defences. His only real weakness is his defence. England played him on the wing when on defence. As the Waratahs found against the Highlanders with Kurtley Beale, this sort of protection breaks down easily if the protected is exposed to a one-on-one with a winger. Try time, in fact, When I say that Jonny Wilkinson is not a great five-eighths, this does not mean I don't under-rate him. He was a great, match-winning player, with his kicking. But he wasn't a great five-eights. He couldn't get his backline moving the way Daniel Cipriani did against a poor Ireland side last weekend. England looked a more complete side, though, with Cipriani running the backs in a way that complemented the bullocking, hard-shouldered driving play of the forwards.
Armchair Sportsfan
Guest
I'm sure the english will find some ingeneous way to dampen Cipriani's creative streak. The best way I'm aware of is to bring eddie jones on to the coaching panel.