It just looks messy. The players may know each other well on the training field, but in a match it is different, and they have not had enough time to develop the instant understanding that’s required.
Eddie Jones likes to have his 700plus caps on the pitch for England, and he appears to take the view that it is always better to be winning games, although planning and development are also key.
You can question whether some players will be as competitive in three years’ time as they are now, and people will be saying that where there are question marks, rest them sometimes and give other players a chance. I understand that, but if someone is going strong at Test level, a coach will always be reluctant to change something that’s working.
We saw this when Jones moved Tom Curry to No.8 at the start of the last Six Nations and there were a lot of voices saying that Alex Dombrandt should be given a chance to show what he could do.
Eddie saw it differently. There are clear standards that he has in his mind that you have to be a certain level in terms of fitness, decisionmaking, and rock-solid defence before he will bring you into the starting side. Players have to give him that light-bulb moment, and that’s why some of the guys in the wider squad remain, and others go back to their clubs.
Denne historien er fra December 06, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 06, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
