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ANALYSIS: What is Eddie Jones up to with his latest version of the Hunger Games?

7th June, 2022
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7th June, 2022
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Of all the good things on the Eddie Jones CV as England boss, his spotless Australian record has to be most satisfying.

He would love to return Down Under after the World Cup with that streak intact: particularly since winning a semifinal clash with the Wallabies looms as the most likely path to another final.

Flip that around and Dave Rennie won’t wanting to be making more concession speeches to Eddie’s England, having lost at his only attempt last year.

Cue the July tour: text, subtext, plot, subplot, actual plotting and ashy melodrama ensured.

Eddie has survived palace coups, a failure review after the worst Six Nations finishes in history, absence of a coherent attacking style, and sketchy moonlighting gigs, but he faces a tough tour without his best midfielders (Henry Slade and Manu Tuilagi), and now, question marks around dynamic No. 8 Sam Simmonds, whose hip is still not healed.

The big news as he named a training group on Monday for a three day gathering in Teddington was 50-cap tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler will miss the whole tour with a back injury plaguing him since the Six Nations.

England and Bristol medical teams agreed Sinckler will have a summer off to avoid the need for surgery.

With Australia’s prop ranks becoming stronger and deeper, this loss will be felt deeply.

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England is shallow at tighthead. Will Stuart of Bath was the Six Nations backup. Relative unknown tightheads Trevor Davison and Biyi Alo are in the 35-man group announced.

Eddie Jones, the England head coach looks on in the warm up during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and England at BT Murrayfield Stadium on February 05, 2022 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Eddie Jones. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

England has plenty on the other side of the scrum (Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Bevan Rodd, and Mako Vunipola) but they are all still playing semifinals.

The 35-man list does not include any players from the Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists – Leicester Tigers, Saracens, Harlequins and Northampton Saints, except for Luke Cowan-Dickie (knee) and Anthony Watson (calf) who will meet up with the squad to continue injury rehabilitation.

First timers include Alo, Charlie Atkinson (both Wasps), Freddie Clarke (Gloucester), Sam Jeffries (Bristol) and Namibian-born Patrick Schickerling (Exeter).

Almost half (16) of the group is uncapped. London Irish contributes five alone in Tom Pearson, YouTube sensation Henry Arundell, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Will Joseph and Tom Parton.

Wasp’s tackle busting back Paolo Odogwu is recalled, having trained with England for the 2021 Six Nations but not capped.

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Jones is often like a dog chasing squirrels but it has worked against the Wallabies. Having beaten the All Blacks well in a semifinal in Japan, his team were unable to handle South African power in the final, leading to a dour form of England (successful) followed by a pronouncement that rugby was all about speed, leading to a woeful Six Nations return, with insipid scoring, and now, he is saying rugby is a game of short bursts with greater power needs.

So, we look for evidence of a plan in this squad; how is Eddie establishing combinations and a coherent attacking style?

Foremost, the return of 32-year old racer Jonny May and muscleman winger Jack Nowell is probably a head-to-head fight for one starter jersey, but I think both will be in the 2023 squad, because England missed May’s nose for a chance dearly and Nowell was a star in the Ireland defeat. Watson is an untouchable Eddie favourite, so the other fliers are fighting for a bolter’s seat on the plane.

Thunder-thighed Henry Arundell gets another shot as does Joe Cokanasiga because his offloading could fit a new plan?

It looks like Eddie is searching for naked speed and will have a look at Ollie Hassell-Collins and Adam Radwan to find that pace.

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However, Eddie’s camps are known to blow out hamstrings, so he may be loading up to see what is left after another Hunger Games.

A flyhalf-midfield combination dictates more about style than wings, but here Eddie has lost two of his top four and will likely default back to Owen Farrell at 12 with Marcus Smith and George Ford doing their dance at 10. One senses a lack of firm anointing of Smith by Jones.

Bath’s Orlando Bailey, an England U21 flyhalf is getting a look, along with Wasps youngster Charlie Atkinson. If a young ten can play well at a team like Bath, he has something.

All of England wants Andre Esterhuizen to find his inner Englishness, but he will want to hack Rassie Erasmus’ attention. So, a poor man’s Andre the Giant, Mark Atkinson is fit again and has his best chance ever.

Bath’s Max Ojomoh is a second specialist inside centre. I see this as another head-to-head for Eddie: is it Mark or Max to pretend to be Tuilagi?

Jonathan Joseph’s brother Will is just 19. He has looked good as a versatile 13 (Eddie’s type of 13) for London Irish. He is a long shot.

The most curious position for England during Eddie’s tenure has been a lack of a defined scrumhalf backup, and may have contributed more to their loss in Yokohama than the early loss of Sinckler in the final.

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Harry Randall and 30-year old Dan Robson (14 caps from the bench) are in the training group.

The battle in the second row is key. Australia has tied Rennie’s hands in overseas selection (only three) which may cost him Rory Arnold and Will Skelton.

England has curiously skipped excellent tight five stalwart Joe Launchbury, a curious call given Charlie Ewel’s continued inability to tackle low (yet another card this weekend). Instead, 29-year old Gloucesterman Freddie Clarke has been picked for his mobility. British and Irish Lion lock Jonny Hill is back from injury and most likely has the inside track to partner Maro Itoje.

Loosies Alfie Barbeary and Jack Willis now have a shot for the July Test bench, with Simmonds crocked and Sam Underhill (wrongly, in my view) sometimes undervalued. Barbeary’s ability to get over the ball in a series where that will be vital may be key. But the twice-capped Ted Hill also has a lane: if England has lacked anything in the last two years it has been a big abrasive back row ball carrier.

ENGLAND TRAINING GROUP

FORWARDS

Biyi Alo (Wasps, uncapped)
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Freddie Clarke (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
Trevor Davison (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
Will Goodrick-Clarke (London Irish, uncapped)
Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors, 2 caps)
Sam Jeffries (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Patrick Schickerling (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
Jack Willis (Wasps, 3 caps)

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BACKS

Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)
Charlie Atkinson (Wasps, uncapped)
Mark Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 69 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 39 caps)
Paolo Odogwu (Wasps, uncapped)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Tom Parton (London Irish, uncapped)
Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons, 2 caps)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
Dan Robson (Wasps, 14 caps)

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