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England suffer major blow as Ellis Genge tests positive for Covid

(Photo by PA)

Ellis Genge has become the second England loosehead to test positive for Covid this week and has been ruled out of Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series match versus Australia at Twickenham. Joe Marler, who came on as a replacement for Genge in last weekend’s win over Tonga, had tested positive at the start of this week for the virus and he immediately went into isolation. 

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With just Genge and Trevor Davison the only remaining two looseheads left available in the England squad at that time, Eddie Jones called up the uncapped Bevan Rodd and the 21-year-old Sale prop was named on the bench behind Genge on Thursday for Saturday’s match versus the Wallabies.

However, the England selection needed to be revisited when it emerged on Friday that Genge had tested positive and it has resulted in Rodd getting promoted to the starting loosehead role with the one-cap Davison coming onto the England bench.     

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An RFU statement read: “Ellis Genge has tested positive for Covid. Genge returned a positive PCR result on Friday morning from a test taken on Thursday morning. He immediately went into isolation.

“No other positive test results were received among players or staff. The group has undergone an additional round of LFT and PCR testing today [Friday]. The squad have trained this morning at Twickenham Stadium ahead of Saturday’s match.”

England’s issues with Covid began on Thursday of last week when a staff member tested positive, a development that resulted in an additional round of testing. This led to Owen Farrell returning a positive test and although this was later confirmed to be a false negative, that finding came too late for him to keep his place in the team that went on to beat Tonga.

Whereas last week, England cut their squad down to 28 in the lead-up to the match versus the Tongans, they decided this week to retain all players in camp rather than release them back to their clubs as an extra precaution to guard against Covid. However, that safeguard wasn’t enough to prevent Genge from contracting the virus and his ten-day isolation period will also rule him out of next weekend’s match versus the Springboks.

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O
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
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