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'Competition so interesting': Ex-Wallaby Phipps on England No9 call

(Photo by Getty Images)

Former Wallabies scrum-half Nick Phipps has spoken enviously about the range of choice at No9 available to England due to how much larger the Premiership set-up is compared to the Australian clubs. Eddie Jones has got 13 clubs to keep an eye on – beginning with Leicester and Ben Youngs – compared to the Aussies having just five teams and London Irish player Phipps believes a greater depth in quality clearly exists in England. 

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The 32-year-old earned the last of his 72 Wallabies caps prior to the 2019 World Cup and he has since been enjoying the stiff competition he has faced on a weekly basis in the Premiership following his signing by London Irish.

It leaves him well placed to cast his eye over the options available to Jones who has included three scrum-halves in his squad for next month’s matches versus Tonga, Australia and South Africa. For quite a considerable time the 32-year-old Youngs, who has made 109 England appearances, has been the first-choice selection. 

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How Wales can defeat the All Blacks in Cardiff

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How Wales can defeat the All Blacks in Cardiff

However, there are now some new kids on the block applying pressure, namely 23-year-old Harry Randall, who started both summer series matches versus the USA and Canada, and 20-year-old Raffi Quirke, who spent his summer helping his country win an age-grade Six Nations Grand Slam in Cardiff. 

What now awaits in the coming weeks regarding Youngs and co with England will be intriguing and ex-Wallabies scrum-half Phipps gave his view on the matter during an appearance on this week’s The Rugby Pod with Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode.  

“Those young boys are good. Raffi and Randall are very good players. Every time I have played them they have been absolute livewires. Whether they are ready for a starting spot in England who really knows. You don’t really know until you get that chance against some southern hemisphere teams. Obviously Ben is the best nine option they have got but do they blood those boys off the bench through that way into some really big Test matches? I don’t really know. There are so many young boys coming through and God, I forget his name from Saints, the nine there (Alex Mitchell). That is the difference between here and Australia. 

“You have got 13 unbelievable nines playing every week whereas in Australia we have got five teams so and out of those five teams, one or two will be just the out and out the best. That competition for spots over here is so interesting to watch and the thing is you could pick one, two or even three really good England teams, it’s just about the combinations that Eddie wants.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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