It’s fair to say that I have a love-hate relationship with Eddie Jones. I’ll never forget the 2019 World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand, but many of his squad selections over his seven-year tenure have baffled and continue to baffle me and my fellow England fans.
Many of these are where Jones takes a very long time to select an up-and-coming premiership star yet to play for England. Sam Simmonds, Marcus Smith, and Alex Dombrandt are all examples of this. What was even more frustrating was that they all took to Test rugby like a duck to water.
But then Eddie seemed to change his ways and took his chance in the form of a Lions tour to blood new players. Yes, these two periods may overlap slightly, but Jones gave debuts to Adam Radwan, Jamie Blamire and Freddie Steward than he would have before.
This leads us now to the ‘new England’. I would say this is the England who defeated the Aussies and Saffas in last year’s Autumn Nations Series. It was a mix of the old, new and relatively experienced. In the first category you had Jonny May, Ben Youngs, Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes. In the second were Tom Curry and Sam Underhill. Finally, in the third was the previously mentioned Steward, Smith, Simmonds, Dombrandt and Blamire as well as Raffi Quirke, Bevan Rodd and Aussie-born Nic Dolly.
All of the players in each section played in the South Africa win, and one thing was for sure: there was more of the new than there was of the old. This looked to be the perfect mould for an exciting side that could challenge for the 2023 World Cup and even win it, led by Jones, who by not listening to the media, brilliantly integrated the young English talent and got them used to Test rugby.
Then the 2022 Six Nations happened, where Jones became even riskier and played more inexperienced players. Luke Cowan-Dickie was starting, with Nick Isiekwe being brought in. England were disappointing then, losing more games than they won. Eddie seems to have now become scared, and reverted back to his old ways, being the more conservative, unpopular version of Eddie Jones among the English public.
The reason I say this is because of his squad selection for the Australia summer series. Billy Vunipola and Danny Care are back in the England fold. Both have had a long time out of the England squad and were assumed to be gone forever, especially in Care’s case, but Jones never rules out a player, and after good form from both – I have bemoaned Eddie for not reselecting Care for the last one and a half years – they are back. However, there are still four uncapped players in the newest Test squad.
It seems Jones believes a slightly less brave team selection is the way forward towards a World Cup-winning side, and I see why he thinks so. It worked so well in the autumn, but when he became more adventurous earlier this year it didn’t work.
However, don’t be fooled into thinking it will be boring, boring England come next month.
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hello Joshua...! I share the taste that this English squad leaves you today. Experiencing a more expansive and aggressive game was a necessary option for England. However, that option has not yet been reflected in the field. Reducing kicking possessions and expanding the passing game hasn't been easy for inexperienced players and newcomers to piece together. The return of Bily Vunipola seems important to me. We all got to see it in the #LEIvSAR Premiership final and how ball carrying worked. The blend that Eddie Jones achieves will begin to be defined from the Autumn Series.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
You're not wrong there
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Bar the prop this is very good England pack. Bill V has firing and the spine of him, Itoje and George is ominous. Care's also on form, who gives a damn about his age, if it's 15-15 with 10 minutes to go it's nice to have an old head come on. 4 lineout catchers/spoilers and Lawes with Billy V will be a better 6. If WB's let penalty count get between 10-15 then MK will need to be at his best to balance the score!
Bodger
Roar Rookie
Personally think it will be a close series, will be awesome to get a couple of wins so fingers crossed.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Because his results tend to fall off a cliff after a while
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
It's that detailed analysis that you can only get here.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Bodger for the betting intel... reckon Wallaby favouritism is only due to home ground advantage?! Which means that if the 'smart money' is presently as is we're all in for a tight Test series. Obviously we will all be smarter for the fact after this w'end. :happy:
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
You're right, I think you can find the "Ashes hatred" in every sport, particularly the ones where England and Australia are both top international teams, such as in rugby union.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Australians always want to win, against anybody. But beating England has long and historic roots going back hundreds of years. There is nothing "sweeter".
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
Why? He is certainly brave and independent enough to be in the top job.
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
I wonder that as well, Eddie said he was playing like a “test number 8” in the Premiership final. We haven’t seen that from Billy V in a long time.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I'm confused Tooly. Is that your preferred squad or the 23 boofheads picked by Rennie?
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
He's best suited to a caretaker or assistant role but he'd never admit it!
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: very good!
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
For sure. Billy V's form was worthy of selection regardless of injuries, however. Makes you wonder if he'd have been picked if all were fit and available
Bodger
Roar Rookie
I had to check the odds at the bookies to see who they thought were favourites, slightly surprised they have the Wallabies as favourites. You can get some good odds on Ireland which I was surprised with. I'm no gambler though so will be sitting back enjoying the games.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
We can run the legs off them with young mobile players . Unfortunately Dave wants boof heads , old and recent failures. Tupou , Lonergan , Samu , Valentini , Wilson , McReight , Gamble , McDermott, Lolisio , Paisami, Kelloway , Banks , Petaia , Loto . Add a bit of muscle in Swain , Holloway , Phillip , Alaatoa, Sio , Slipper , Bell , Faingaa , Koreibeti and Kerevi.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I am not a Jones apologist. In fact, when he was up here with the Reds I, like most others, couldn’t wait to be rid of the “Tah” infidel. It was only some time later that we learnt of the troubles he was going through with a brain tumour (I believe). Due to this, I’m willing to cut him a little slack over this time period. Otherwise, he’s been too successful in so many environments that you’d be crazy to underestimate whatever it is he has planned.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
No doubt you are in the majority . Sooner or later , time is running out , England are going to have to reveal themselves. Assuming there is a bigger plan to reveal . The only sector that still seem to support him are his players . Lose them it’s game over .
Joshua Makepeace
Roar Rookie
I also find it very difficult to support him at times.