Competition for places is, normally, an excellent problem (if such a thing exists) for an international head coach to have. It pushes players to new levels, knowing they can’t rest on their laurels with someone snapping at their heels to take their place.
A year out from a World Cup, however, it is not the ideal scenario for Stuart Lancaster and his England squad. He finds himself in a situation where the players who make up combinations he has worked so hard to gel over the past couple of years are coming under real pressure for their places from younger, or less experienced, guys who have torn out of the blocks like Usain Bolt in the first two weeks of the new season.
A caveat before we go into more detail – it’s still very early days when you put the last couple of weeks into the context of the season as a whole. There will be injuries and dips in form before Lancaster has to pick any team.
If, however, the trend of the opening two weekends continues, the question is thus: does Lancaster stick with the players who have done a good job in the past few years, and who have come together to make up the core of the new look England, so lauded in most parts compared with any other England team since 2003, or does he gamble and bring in the guys who have started the season with such a bang?
Lancaster claims nobody – not even captain Chris Robshaw – is guaranteed their place in the team, which would suggest he’s ready to reward those impressing at their clubs. But this doesn’t necessarily ring that true when compared with his form when it comes to selection – he has always set great store by the concept of ‘credit in the bank’, and it would be a massive surprise to see wholesale changes this autumn.
In reality, it is likely to be somewhere in between the two. It would be remiss of Lancaster not to look at new players if their club form warrants it, but at the same time those that have done a good job for England in the past few years deserve to continue their international form.
So who is pushing for a place and who might be under threat? The back row is the area where this dilemma is perhaps most acute right now.
Will Fraser’s name has been mentioned a lot this week, and rightly so after his performance against Quins. His work rate was high and he was destructive at the breakdowns. It was all the more poignant that such a performance came against the man in possession of the shirt he wants – Chris Robshaw.
James Haskell was another with the number seven on his back who has made a barnstorming start to the season. Haskell has had his chances with England but has perhaps been a victim of his versatility – Wasps seem intent on making him their openside, but would that work for England? He’s certainly looking like a viable squad option, at least.
Robshaw and Tom Wood will be two guys who will be feeling the heat as a result, but of course they have plenty of time to play themselves into form. And this is where competitions for places is usually a good thing – it should spur them on to new levels, fearing a loss of their place.
Fly-half is another area of uncertainty. Owen Farrell has done a good job for England, but he cemented his place in the team at a time when there were very few other options. Now, England have George Ford, Danny Cipriani and Freddie Burns, all of whom have started the season superbly, while Farrell has been stuck on the bench watching Charlie Hodgson running the show for Saracens.
Ultimately, the team that has been doing a job for Lancaster will likely be given the chance to continue – and rightly so. But if they don’t perform in the first couple of Autumn games, the head coach will surely be tempted to give someone else a go. The problem is, there is such a limited number of games left until the World Cup, it would certainly be a risk. Stick or twist?
So Leigh Halfpenny could be leaving Toulon without having played a game. Mourad Boudjellal might be a comic book mogul, but at times he comes across more as a comic book villain. Sure, he has a business to run and paying Halfpenny’s salary when he is injured is frustrating, but we are talking about professional rugby players here, people in one of the most attritional jobs in the world – Boudjellal knows the risks.
He gambled on injury prone players before and it paid off – the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Juan Smith turned into great signings. But now he signs someone who has spent too much time on the physio’s table in the first few months at the club and he is throwing his toys out of the pram, claiming he was injured before he arrived and taking aim at the IRB again as a result. You know the rules, Mourad, whether you like them or not.
Clubs in the Premiership will be allowed another ‘marquee player’ in 2015, according to a report in The Times, as part of a rise in the salary cap structure designed to give English clubs more weight in the transfer market to attract the world’s top players after the World Cup.
The bizarre thing, though, is that the second marquee player has to be signed from overseas. Why? It hardly promotes the English game. It’ll be great to see more big names in the Premiership, but it seems strange to stipulate that clubs can’t spend more of their money on home-grown players, too.
By Jamie Hosie
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Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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It’s not like Lancaster is picking from a stable position at the moment, the issue with the centres in NZ destabilising the backline somewhat.
I think by and large though it will be the same 15. If Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Lawes, Parling, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola, Care, Farrell, Yarde, Twelvetrees, Tuilagi, Ashton and Brown are all fit for the first Autumn game, I’d be surprised if at least 12/13 weren’t in the starting line-up, with the rest in the squad.
Tuilagi came from nowhere in 2010 to England’s starting line-up for the 2011 World Cup, so it can be done, but I can’t see him wanting to bring more than 1 or 2 that have no squad experience into the starting line-up. I’m sure he’d much rather the threat of Fraser and Cipriani drove Robshaw and Farrell to new heights before the World Cup, rather than actually have to replace them. Indeed, Haskell and Burns have much more chance than Fraser and Cipriani, because they’ve been round the squad more and already won caps under Lancaster.
Rob, its very likely that Cipriani racked up some credit whilst touring New Zealand. I think that he is far more likely to leapfrog Burns, than Fraser ahead of Haskell.
I would be surprised if Haskell has not put himself into a position of next 6 and next 7 ‘off the rank’.
I also think the race for No2 (the Hooker, the the ranking) is tight. Webber did very well in New Zealand, and based purely on “end of season” form, must have pushed ahead of the absent Tom Youngs.
The restriction on the second marquee player is not that he be playing overseas, merely that he not be playing in the Premiership; he could be playing elsewhere in the British Isles. Furthermore, he could be English – anyone mention Steffon Armitage?
Well if he turns French – as is rumoured – then he could be signed as an overseas marquee player.
Perfect irony.
One aspect that may favour Burns is that he is now playing with Youngs and Tuilagi at club level, and has played with 36 too, whereas Cipriani doesn’t have any England team mates at Sale. If Burns and Youngs continue as they have started the season, I wouldn’t bet against them making the bench for the AI’s.
Some good possible match-ups for this weekend’s games. Leicester v Bath has a few players looking to stake their claim, Quins v Wasps has Yarde/Wade and Robshaw/Haskell
At least there are players putting their hands up. With a long season and the threat of injuries ever-present, its good to know that some back-up is available!
Looking at the positives Pablito – a novel approach!
Ha! I do find it easy to be optimistic about England’s prospects at the moment. I think we have a team that is very close to clicking.
There are lots of exciting prospects out there – and that’s before we even see how Burgess turns out!
For me it’s the back that are the pressing issue. As soon as Dan cole comes back our pack will be world class, with depth and skill throughout. That midfield partnership has become a bit of a ‘pull a name out of a hat and they will play with Manu’ situation. For me it’s Barrett with Burrell on the bench. 36 nope, dont see it, never have. Eastmond – hell yes but not with Manu. Burgess – If he lives up to the hype (Not convinced he will acclimatise in time). Hell play Farrel and it would be another goodish option. I would like to see Manu on the wing in the six nations against Italy/Scotland to really try him out on a (no disrespect to the two teams) softer team than NZ.
I still think Barrett is the way to go with his defence. Come world cup I dont really care how many points we get as long as its more than the other team and Barrett offers that secuity and hes tested with Manu. Food for thought. I wonder if Lancaster reads these…..I like to think so. Ashton is back on the wings for me, especially as strettle wont be chosen…..still dont get that decision.
For me Cipriani has to be given a start for England, his defensive issues of yesteryear seem to have gone, his kicking out of hand and off the tee is good and we all know what he can do with his running game. He’s playing very well behind a non-dominant Sale pack, I’d love to see what he could do behind a pack that provided front foot ball for an entire game!!!
Move Farrell to 12 he offers more in this role with Tuilagi at 13 and Ford at 10. Wings are still a huge question mark
The back row is a very interesting one. Personally I would be tempted to give Fraser a shot if he stays fit. We know that Robshaw can perform for England on the big stage. Robshaw can play 6 also, so he could find himself competing with Wood if Fraser is a realistic option. Haskell is the ideal bench man for the back row. He’s played in all three positions for England, so is more versatile than Morgan, who is the current option.
Fly halves, well there is an interesting one!? I would be quite happy with any of the guys mentioned here, but I would particularly like to see Ford and Farrell at 10/12 respectively. They played excellently together for the U20’s. Realistic 12 options at the moment are 36, Eastmond, Barritt, Farrell and maybe Allen? Of these I see Eastmond and Allen as the best two to combine with Tuilagi, and 36, Farrell and Barritt as the best to combine with Burrell.
Not sure at this stage that I’d be trying Fraser out. There has to be a really good reason to drop your captain when there are 10 meaningful games until the WC. Currently there is not one. Yes Quins have started the season poorly, but Robshaw was brilliant for England in the summer.
Interested to see your reasoning for the combo’s? Why would say… Farrell and 36 not suit playing with Tuilagi? The Allen and Tuilagi makes sense to me, but i can’t see why 36 can’t play with him.
For me, Cipriani should be our second choice 10 behind Farrell. Man in form. I wouldn’t mind seeing Farrell outside Cipriani during the last 20 of games. Tuilagi at 13 obviously. I still think 36 is the man for the 12 shirt.
I think to get the best out of Tuilagi you need someone inside him who can be a little unpredictable, with a bit more pace and guile. Something I’m not sure that Farrell or 36 have. I would love to see Cipriani with Farrell outside him and someone like Joseph or Trinder at 13. Also now wondering where you would fit Burgess into the equation. Will he even be ready? Will Bath play him at 12 or 13? The thought of Cipriani delivering a delicate chip over a flat defence with Burgess collecting and smashing anyone left in the way is quite nice. I’ve been watching too much League lately I think!!