Eddie Jones has called on Wallabies great George Smith for advice on selecting England’s openside flanker.
The new England coach and former Wallabies mentor spoke to Smith, a player he coached at national and Super Rugby level, to gain intelligence on fellow Wasps flanker and captain James Haskell.
Jones and Smith have had a long association, with the coach signing the flanker for the Brumbies in 1999 before awarding the champion No.7 his first Wallabies cap the next year.
After canvasing Smith’s opinion on openside, Jones hinted Haskell could be the player picked at No.7 for the Six Nations, with World Cup captain Chris Robshaw in pole position to move from openside to blindside flanker.
“We have to pick a bloke who at the moment who can do that primary job of first phase work,” Jones said.
“There are a couple of blokes in the squad who we think can do it, not on a long term basis, but on a short term basis. Haskell might be one of them.”
Meanwhile, Jones insists Manu Tuilagi can perform a similar role to New Zealand centre Ma’a Nonu as one of a cluster of England players who have the potential to become world class.
Jones believes the 24-year-old, who has played most of his rugby at outside centre, is better suited to the number 12 jersey – the position double World Cup winner Nonu filled 103 times for the All Blacks.
“Manu can play both inside and outside centre, but when he’s fit, he can be a Ma’a Nonu-type player,” said Jones, who has included Tuilagi in his squad for the Six Nations.
cuw
Guest
money is on brisbane born Jack Clifford (Harlequins) to play at 7. he is a former under 20 captain, just like itoje and Jones will want a few young leaders in the mix looking fwd to 2019.
Bakkies
Guest
It is not irrelevant for this discussion as the question was asked. You could argue that they have tried the most small 7s out of the home unions. I dare say Armitage would be back in the England squad under Jones if he was playing club Rugby in England. England have had different roles in the back row. There have been suggestions that Robshaw will go to 6 to accommodate Kvesic. When he is playing for Billy Vunipola is probably the best fetcher they have despite wearing 8 on his back.
Bakkies
Guest
The pathways are there AP A premiership, club, England under 20s, Saxons, 7s, etc. Coaches don't want it due to politics, interference, restrictions on sessions due to clubs and that it is also a poisoned chalice.
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
McCaw - 1.88m Hooper - 1.82m Pocock - 1.84m
zer0
Guest
I wasn't being entirely serious. Hence the "..." at the end.
cuw
Guest
winning 3:0 in footy is considered fantastic. obviously u have not seen them play. forget last season, this season they already have 48 goals in 17 matches and that is just in Bundesliga. in comparison EPL leaders Arsenal have scored 37 in 22 matches ; Spanish LaLiga leaders Athletico madrid have 30 goals in 20 games; Italian Serie A leaders napoli have 41 in 20 games; French Ligue 1 Leaders PSG have 51 in 21 games. Only team close to goal scoring in european footy is Real madrid with 57 goals in 20 games. so if england play like bayern it will be great. Just becoz u know next to nothing about footy ...... DUH
zer0
Guest
Playing like Bayern? You mean, kicking a lot and playing matches with 3-0 scorelines? Think England are already pretty handy at that...
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Do you? How many premier sprinters peak in their very early 20s? Footballers generally slow down with age due to injury and external factors. Not capability to produce pace.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Lobbe is 193cm and 108kg, generally playing 6 or 8 more than 7. Of his 71 tests, 28 have been at 8. Richie McCaw - 188cm and 106kg (interesting because he was always noted as 186cm for the majority of his career. Must have grown an inch in his 30s... Francois Louw - 190cm and 114kg. For reference, Jerome Kaino is 196cm and 113cm. Which does Louw seem more physically similar too?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
So since Back they haven't regularly used a smaller openside. As you said, Armitage had a brief test career. Back was the last to regularly be first choice. What Scotland is doing is irrelevant. How successful is that for them?
allblackfan
Guest
you naturally slow down with age, cuw. As you age, your body changes. This is why 18-year-old props are considered developing (ie Tongan Thor) and 30-year-old ones in their prime. A few may seem to defy that but that is the exception, not the rule. I'd say the older you get (to a point), the better your ability to absorb punishment but the longer it takes to recover.
ebop
Guest
That in itself shows the pathway in England is broken. Is it because they are too scared?
ebop
Guest
Yeah Tman, you're right. England wanted in on ANZAC vibe like the rest of the UK. It's an experiment just like Deans was in Australia. It's the great homogenisation of world rugby, can't beat em, join em. But buying in a kiwi / Aussie is a shortcut and until the likes of Saracens scoring their hatrick of penalty tries aren't the toast of town then a fancy SH coach won't do bugger all.
ebop
Guest
Yes Not Bothered, I guess they were 'both' failures that's why Cheika is now the coach. I don't know where you're from but if you don't understand why a kiwi coaching an Australian national rugby team was an experiment then I can't help you. "Oh and that Arg scrum coach you have, that Fijian winger, Kiwi prop, Kiwi Kicking coach etc." How about using your eyes and read what I wrote about coaches. The players you mention, they have to qualify. Coaches can waltz about. Can you wrap your brain around that?
Taylorman
Guest
Yes, when he shouldn't have been. They could have done with him in 2007. Anyway, the comparison is silly. Tuilagi has to sort his off field tendencies to be self destructive before he can rate as a successful international.
Not Bothered
Guest
The failed Deans experiment? How was Deans anymore of a failure than McKenzie? Oh and that Arg scrum coach you have, that Fijian winger, Kiwi prop, Kiwi Kicking coach etc. Use your brain.
Not Bothered
Guest
You mean like McCaw, Poey and Lobbe? There is a line that is used on a map that divides the NH and SH, on either side they use different types of players and there is NO trend on either side of that line. Arg have historically been as different to NZ as Italy has and France has been historically as different to Eng as it has to Aus. McCaw is of similar build to Warburton and Poey is of similar build to O'Brien. Hooper and Tipuric play a similar game and Louw is no bigger than McCaw.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Love Dusatouir but you said it, his main thing is his defence. He is not in the same class in attack as those named above.
Bakkies
Guest
Tuilagi needs to cut off the rats tail. He isn't from Airport West.
Bakkies
Guest
'Who has played 7 for England the last 2 decades? Robshaw and Moody. Both players more like Aus/NZ 6’s.' Neil Back. Fatty Armitage had a brief test career. O'Brien has had to play a fetching role for Ireland. Scotland have had Rennie, MacFadyen, Barclay.