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The natural knee-jerk reaction to a decline in form in any team is to question selection.
Since England’s loss to Scotland – and with each loss thereafter – pundits, former players and fans whinging has risen to a din of consternation. Anyone with a vested interest in England can be heard braying about the minutiae of Eddie Jones’ England selection.
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Whether you’re a ‘Ford out’ or an ‘Armand In’, the consensus is that Eddie’s England needs a spring clean and after a third loss on the trot, the embattled Australian hinted that he’s now of a similar mind.
With this in mind RugbyPass looks ahead to a potential England selection for 2019.
1: Mako Vunipola
The Saracens prop is one of England’s true worldclass operators and despite the flack the team have shipped, the loosehead is probably still one of the first on the teammate sheet.
2: Jamie George
No one thinks Hartley is a better player than George, but his dropping will bring with it a significant loss of leadership. But can Eddie justify the inclusion of the 34-year-old on leadership grounds alone for another 18 months. We suggest not.
3: Kyle Sinckler
A truly destructive carrier amid a team that has struggled to win the collision this tournament. He needs game time at the highest level and that means starting for England consistently.
4: Joe Launchbury
His doggedness, workrate and leadership mean the Wasps captain is lock-in at lock if you can excuse the dreadful pun. He has 51 caps for England and could yet become the Paul O’Connell/Alun Wyn Jones like figure this England team crave.
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5: Maro Itoje
Second season syndrome or not, Itoje has looked tired. His abilities are beyond question at this stage, but it’s how England deploy him that still might warrant debate. Probably deserves a summer off.
6: Don Armand
With England struggling at the breakdown, it will become increasingly difficult for Jones to justify the continued selection of 6’7 lock Courtney Lawes at blindside. That experiment is over. While Armand plays seven at Exeter, a strong argument could be made towards stacking England’s backrow with ball-winners. Let’s face it, they are playing catch-up.
7: Sam Underhill
Underhill needs to get to the groundhog he was at Ospreys and not the Kamikaze tackling machine he’s become for England. Will face a battle with Tom Curry.
Just how reliant England are on Vunipola for go forward is worrying. Although the injured Nathan Hughes is slowing getting better at carrying at international level, he still cuts a pale shadow next to the 130kg Saracen.
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9: Ben Youngs
Wigglesworth was not able to give England the ‘front foot’ ball Eddie craved against Ireland, and the Youngs/Care tag team still seems like England’s best option. It might be too late with the Rugby World Cup looming to develop Saracens’ Ben Spencer or Wasps Dan Robsonm, who are yet to earn an England cap between them.
10: Owen Farrell
Farrell can hold his head high despite England’s dreary Six Nations. Not having to mind George Ford could allow him to fulfil his true destiny as England’s answer to Jonny Sexton.
11: Anthony Watson
Watson’s fallibility under the high ball mean he isn’t the long-term solution that many England fans believe him to be. Playing on the wing will allow him to do what he does best – beat defenders – while minimising England’s exposure under aerial bombardment.
12: Manu Tuilagi
Yes, he’s perennially injured, but really, is there any English rugby player that is so ubiquitously feared as Tuilagi? Oh, and you can forget about gainline problems when Manu’s around.
13: Elliot Daly
England’s outstanding threat this Six Nations despite only appearing in the latter stages. Not only does Daly keep defences guessing, he has the speed to match the best in the world while his creativity with ball-in-hand means he can create for those around him. England need to get the ball to him more often, and playing at 13 brings him one position closer to the action.
‘Roko’ brings a strike running threat that has missing from an increasing blunt looking England attack. Has done little wrong in an England jersey. Jonny May maybe the fastest player in English rugby, but speed alone won’t unlock the world’s best defences. Rokoduguni brings the footwork and power in contact that May sorely lacks.
15: Chris Ashton
Is this really such a fanciful selection? Ashton has been a revelation at fullback for Toulon, where he has profited from running lines off the likes of Semi Radradra and Joshua Tuisova and is one try away from a Top 14 try record. We all know his face doesn’t fit, but can England really afford to ignore his ability to get over the whitewash?
