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'He slipped over': England explain Lawes training ground mishap that sees 19-year-old rookie Martin making the bench

(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

A decision on whether Courtney Lawes can play any further part in this season’s Guinness Six Nations is still awaited by England after the veteran forward fell over at training on Wednesday, ruling him out of selection for this Saturday’s round three game away to Wales.

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Lawes was expected to be named in the starting England line-up at the Principality Stadium. He had even conducted media interviews on Wednesday where he had spoken about the prospect of his battle chasing Dan Biggar, his clubmate at Northampton.  

However, Lawes went on to injury himself at England training later that day, paving the way for Mark Wilson to return to the starting line-up and for Jones to include the uncapped 19-year-old George Martin on the bench. The Wilson for Lawes switch was one of two Jones made to England’s starting XV, Jamie George also resuming at hooker following a rare start there versus Italy for Luke Cowan-Dickie who now returns to the bench. 

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Explaining what happened to Lawes, Jones said: “The first part of training yesterday [Wednesday] he slipped over. He felt something in his pec. We weren’t sure of the significance of the injury so he was scanned this morning [Thursday] at the first available time and unfortunately he has got a little bit of damage there that needs further diagnosis and checking which will be done over the next few days and we will have a clearer picture of his further participation in the tournament. 

“He has done some damage to the pec muscle. Sometimes they can be rather serious and sometimes they can be not so serious, so we just have to wait and see until we get further information.”

Jones continued by explaining what the loss of Lawes at blindside will mean for England, while he also trumpeted the inclusion of the teenage Martin on the bench. “Six, when we played Courtney there it’s more of a jumping, running role but normally if it’s not Courtney we have more of a workrate six which is Mark Wilson. A lot of defence, a lot of good clean-outs, be a bit of a glue player for the team.   

“We have been watching him [Martin] since we got him into camp this time last Six Nations, so we brought him in, had a look at him. Unfortunately, he had a medial ligament injury. He played a couple of games for his club after the lockdown, got a medial ligament and that ruled him out of participation in autumn. 

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“But now he has been back playing for his club. He is very much an old fashioned six, a good defensive six, carries the ball hard and is also a lineout option and with time he may mature into being able to play lock as well.      

“He has got a good body and we are so lucky he has been well-coached by Steve Borthwick at the Tigers so he comes in with a really good work ethic, a good approach to his training and if he keeps working hard he is going to be a good player.”

With Wales two wins from two and England playing catch-up after an opening-round loss to Scotland, Jones reckoned there will be pressure on both teams in Cardiff and he expects the contest to close as has regularly been the case since he took charge of the English.

“You get to the third game of the series for most teams it is a make-or-break game and both teams face similar pressure. There is nothing more exciting than a Wales-England game. Unfortunately, there are no fans but the intensity of the clash over the last four or five years, certainly the games I have been involved in the points difference I think is six. They always go down to the wire so the pressure is going to be on the referee to make the right decisions.

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“Wales-England, it means a lot to both countries. They are always tough, tough games. This is the allure of the Six Nations, they are tight contests that go down to the last moment. We won one in 2017 basically on the bell and we had to win on the bell at Twickenham last year so we are expecting a similar sort of game. It’s the sort of game you have got to win not once but maybe two or three times. They will keep coming, we will keep coming. It’s going to be a great contest.”

Queried about Wales’ return to winning ways after a difficult first year under Wayne Pivac, Jones didn’t agree England’s rivals had endured a slump in 2020. “You guys [the media] called it a slump. They had a new coach. They were rebuilding after the World Cup. 

“They went through a transitional period which is normal in teams which is normal after they have had a successful period which they did under Gatland. They find their feet. Tactically they are probably a bit similar to what they were under Gatland than what they first stared under Wayne and they are a tough competitive team.” 

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David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6 🥴:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


And, for the record, NONE of the above are good enough to coach the All Blacks. The All Blacks have the guy that hasn’t won a single Super title. He’s won 6.


Errors and Ommissions Excepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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