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Eddie Jones' 'finishers' are the only thing keeping England on track for the Slam
By Lee Calvert
England’s victory over Wales in Cardiff highlighted what a difference the bench makes, writes Lee Calvert.
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Eddie Jones says lots of things to the media. Most of it is nonsense about percentages or how he received his eye injury, but one thing he said has been borne out in the opening two matches: that he does not see the bench as substitutes but as “finishers.”
In the first week against France the Australian emptied the bench and changed the dynamic of the game. France had been on top physically throughout and, were it not for some poor decision making and certain players catching like they had feet for hands, would have been well ahead. Going into the final 20 minutes it seemed France’s relentless physicality would see them over the victory line. Then on came Jamie George, James Haskell, Danny Care and Ben Te’o. Each played a part in the smash and grab win – Te’o literally smashing over the line.
Fast forward a week and England found themselves in a similar predicament. After a decent opening 15 minutes building to a try, Wales exerted consistent pressure on the England defence. Though they squandered a few chances the home side ultimately ended up the lead going into the last quarter of the game. Once again Jones unpacked the pine, sending on the same suspects and his side again changed the shape of the game, leading to a last gasp win. At the post-match press conference he admitted: “We’ve used up all our get out of jail free cards.”
What is it about the England bench that has made it so much more effective than their opponents?
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At Cardiff on Saturday both Jones and Wales stand-in coach Rob Howley both sent on the reserve cavalry in the last half-hour. The key difference was that the Wales subs were from the old school way of thinking around the bench as replacements: the second-best, inferior versions of the starters.
Jamie Roberts, a shadow of his once-great former self, replaced Scott Williams; young lock Corey Hill replaced the powerful Jake Ball; Scott Baldwin, a hooker who is not even the best option at his club, came on for the hard-as-nails Ken Owens. And then there was Gareth Davies, the scrum-half in the worst form of his admittedly short life. Each of these replacements offered nothing at best or weakened a position at worst, and each seemed to have no specific role in changing the game positively for Wales.
England’s additions were the opposite. Jamie George is the form hooker in Britain and arguably would be starting if it were not for Dylan Hartley having the captaincy. He added abrasive zip. James Haskell ran straight and hard and grafted his team over the gainline against a tiring defence. Danny Care hurried up the ball and had the forwards carrying off him, and Ben Te’o brought dynamism and power to the midfield, demonstrated by his one bullocking run turning Wales around as the game entered the final stages.
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Before the tournament England fans had begun to ask that Eddie Jones show them what his full gameplan for the team looks like. On the evidence of the first two weeks of the Six Nations this plan is: play well for 10 minutes, defend like hell, empty the bench, play well for 10 minutes… and win.
While this surely can’t be the long-term plan it’s certainly working for now. For their fans England are irresistible while for their opponents who are coming so close to beating them they are no doubt infuriating.
Who’s to say there won’t be few more free jailbreaks as the team head towards the record number of straight test wins?
