England vs Italy: Eddie Jones goes back to basics to win it simple - but at what cost?
Jones has selected the centre pairing he wanted when he took the reins in 2016, but England have resorted to crash, bang, wallop rugby against the Six Nations’ whipping boys
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Your support makes all the difference.“England should play ugly, and the uglier the better. Ugly doesn't have to mean one-dimensional or predictable. It means forcing an advantage at first phase and then winning the contact by getting the right numbers in the right places and actually doing something with the ball.”
The words of Eddie Jones, writing in his column for The Independent back in 2009, the day before Martin Johnson’s England lost 23-15 to Wales.
Fast-forward a decade and perhaps rugby hasn’t evolved as much as some would tell us.
For all the analysis, data, medical science and armies of coaches, Jones has picked an England team to play Italy which sends a resounding “f*** you” to anyone romantic naive enough to believe professional rugby still has room for light-touch subtlety when it comes to cracking an opposition nut.
Dominate first phase, win the contact, do something with ball. Simple.
Expect England to play ugly at Twickenham on Saturday. That doesn’t mean they won’t score tries. This is, after all, an Italian team which heads into the game on the back of 20 consecutive Six Nations losses; by some distance the worst losing streak in the history of the tournament.
But couldn’t we at least have hoped for a little more wit to the selection?
With three of England’s three-quarters weighing a combined total of 53 stone between them, Joe Cokanasiga, Manu Tuilagi and Ben Te’o are the headline acts of an English back division the like of which no-one has ever seen, or ever wanted to see for that matter. But while it’s easy to get fixated on what England have, it’s just as important to remember what they have not.
By shedding Henry Slade and Jack Nowell, Jones has replaced wit and cunning with brute force in a bid to overpower an Italy side whose coaching team sold him a dummy two-years ago with their controversial “no ruck” tactic.
This is an England team designed to exact revenge on Conor O’Shea’s team. It’s the team Jones probably had in mind when he took over from his predecessor Stuart Lancaster and spoke of needing more “nasty” players in his team, or a word to that effect.
With the combative, carrying qualities of Ellis Genge at loosehead prop alongside Kyle Sinckler, Jones has also picked a pack designed to put their foot on the throat of an Italy team already punch-drunk from so many consecutive losses.
With Owen Farrell captain, there is a brooding edge across England’s starting line-up.
On paper, it’s a game already proving hard to love before it’s even kicked off. Last week’s predictable training ground bust up with Georgia’s pumped up players didn’t help while Jones’ selection has deepened the sense we’re readying ourselves for 80 minutes of smash, bang, wallop. Win ugly, win simple.
We could be wrong. Three weeks ago England produced one of their finest halves of rugby under Jones as they swatted France aside at Twickenham with ease. Their game against Italy provides them with an opportunity to claim the bonus-point win Wales failed to claim in Rome. Come the final whistle of Wales visit of Ireland next Saturday, that point could yet prove precious.
Cokanasiga, the 6ft 3in 18 stone Fijian-born Bath flyer who Farrell this week described as “massive”, is far more than just a carrier. The former London Irish star possesses superb hands, wonderful aerial skills and quick feet and has the potential to be a true star on the world stage.
It’s just a shame he won’t have Slade’s sublime handling skills to put help put him into space.
The Exeter centre, sublime in his side’s win over Ireland in Dublin in their vibrant opening performance to the tournament, has been criminally underused since, with England’s system denying one of the best passers in the game the chance to showcase his skills.
He must settle for a place on England’s bench against Italy, alongside reserve half-backs George Ford and Dan Robson, who continues to bide his time for a first international start, despite opportunities for game time ahead of the World Cup fast diminishing.
The failure to get the best out of Slade in Cardiff, or indeed use him to any degree at all, says far more about England’s system, than it does about the player himself.
Te’o and Tuilagi will inflict a huge physical toll on Italy’s defenders but is it a midfield combination with the rugby wit and intelligence to win England a World Cup? For the sake of rugby, you’d like to think not.
England will win and will probably gain a bonus-point in the process on Saturday. It will be unerringly physical, eye-wateringly confrontational and with admirable courage on show from all those involved.
Will it be pretty? No chance. Enjoyable to watch? Depends on your taste.
This is an England team designed to win ugly. Win first phase, dominate the collision. Simple.
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