Eddie Jones has decided he needs more monster backs capable of smashing his England team through all obstacles en route to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. Jones sees the size of his current backline as an increasing issue and, having rejected Christian Wade, is hoping to unearth a couple of bigger contenders on this summer’s tour to Argentina.
In a modern game increasingly populated by giants, the modestly proportioned George Ford, Elliot Daly, Jonathan Joseph and Mike Brown have all contributed significantly as England have lifted the past two Six Nations Championship titles. Jones, though, is keen to increase England’s power ratio in the belief that size matters if his squad have ambitions to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
“We need some more size in the backs, that’s one thing I’m convinced of,” said Jones, already looking at how to ensure England emerge ahead of France and Argentina from their tough 2019 World Cup pool. “We’ve got a very small backline and we don’t have any player over 94kg. To play against the best teams in the world you need some size in your backline, so we’re going to have to find that.”
Powerful wingers are particularly high on Jones’s wishlist, which explains the selection of the uncapped Denny Solomona and London Irish’s Joe Cokanasiga for England’s two-Test series in June. The 19-year-old Cokanasiga is 6ft 4in tall and tips the scales at almost 18 stone; the forceful Solomona, who has played international rugby league for Samoa, is only an inch shorter. The utility back Harry Mallinder, meanwhile, is 6ft 5in and weighs 17 stone.
It is worth mentioning that Wade, who stands at only 5ft 9in, is this season’s leading Premiership try-scorer; a lack of inches did not prevent Wales’s Shane Williams from becoming one of the world’s most dangerous wingers. Jones, either way, is looking for some fringe players to force their way into his thinking over the next two years.
“I’m prepared to gamble with a number of players to see what they’ve got and where they can go,” Jones said. “I’ve probably got 15 to 18 players I’d say would almost be certain come selection for the World Cup and, because of the Lions tour, we’ve got a great opportunity to test even more players on this tour. If they’re not good enough, they’re possibly not good enough to play in the World Cup.”
The captain, Dylan Hartley, will also be invited to restate his credentials for continuing in the job beyond this year. “There’s no reason why he can’t, it depends on how hungry he is for it. Initially the plan was to have him for the first two years. After that it’s just a question of: ‘Is he improving as a player or improving as a captain?’ That’s like every other player, so it’s no different. I think he really improved in the Six Nations. He’s better than he was in November. His captaincy’s gone up to another level. The preparation he’s doing for Argentina, and certainly the form he’s showing for Northampton, suggest he’s going in the right direction.”
Jones, who believes New Zealand “deserve to be clear favourites” to win the next World Cup, has also given his blessing to the skills coach Rory Teague’s decision to leave the Rugby Football Union and take up a backs coaching role at Bordeaux Bègles. “I’m pleased for him. One of my jobs is to improve English coaches and I’ve always said you’ve got to seek new experiences.
“He’d had a term with us and now has an opportunity at a great club like Bordeaux. If he does three or four years there then comes back, he’s the sort of guy who’s ready to take on a senior role with the national side. You’ve got to remember he just had a junior role with us. I will replace him in due course but he’ll go on the tour and I’ll see what other English coach I can find.”
Before heading to Argentina England are also due to face a potentially strong Barbarians side at Twickenham on 28 May. Among those confirmed to represent the Baa-Baas are France’s Thierry Dusautoir, Australia’s Will Genia and Adam Ashley-Cooper, and the New Zealander Jeremy Thrush.
