After four years at the helm we should know by now that Eddie Jones likes to spring a surprise — or, in this case, two.
Predicting what England’s head coach will do next is a bit like trying to pick the winning lottery numbers: everyone loves to have a go, but few get it right.
“I’ve been here for a few years now and the worst trap you can fall into is trying to second guess what Eddie’s thinking,” said England wing Jonny May. “That will definitely keep you up at night — and you’ll never get it right, either.”
That was certainly the case yesterday as Jones named his 31-man squad for the World Cup. Hardly anyone would have predicted that Lewis Ludlam and Ruaridh McConnochie would be on the plane to Japan, but sure enough they made the cut.
Between them, Bath wing McConnochie and Northampton flanker Ludlam have one England cap, with the latter earning that on Sunday against Wales.
Part of the rationale behind selecting the pair is Jones’s shift away from picking players on experience. The Australian specifically targeted that when appointed in 2015, but now he is after fresh blood.
“One of the vital things about selection is knowing when a player is just about to fall off,” said Jones. “After two years, I thought we would carry quite an experienced team to the World Cup. Then I found out I needed to make changes, so I had to start again. I think it’s always nice to bring new blood in. It freshens everything up.”
McConnochie, the only uncapped player in the squad, is the newest blood of all, but while his selection may have caught people by surprise — not least because he is in ahead of a third scrum-half or tight-head prop — Jones revealed the wing was not a difficult pick.
“Once he came into camp, he cemented our impression of him,” added Jones. “He’s a very good worker, a very good communicator. He’s a mature boy who has played a number of positions, so he was a pretty easy selection in the end.”
McConnochie’s background and style make him an attractive option. Honing his skills on the Sevens circuit, the 27-year-old is a versatile player who offers something different.
“I will tell you the game I saw him,” said Jones. “It was a beautiful sunny day in Exeter. He played for Bath and did a lot of good things. I remember driving back in the car and trying to find out more about him. We did that, got some background information and he continued to play well.”
In camp, McConnochie has impressed with his communication skills — something Jones values highly — while the fact he is 6ft 3in but has quick feet also counts in his favour.
When it comes to Ludlam, Jones confessed yesterday the flanker has come “from nowhere” to make the final 31.
However, his performance against Wales on Sunday highlighted exactly why he has earned his spot. The 23-year-old is a worker, the kind of player who puts in the hard yards so others can flourish. That is often overlooked, but not by Jones.
“He’s one of those old-fashioned sixes that just does the job,” he said. “He carries hard, tackles hard, cleans out hard. They’re such valuable players, they allow others to do their jobs. We’ve been watching him, he did particularly well, and again we thought we’d roll the dice to see what he could offer.”
Jones will now be hoping the gamble pays off.
