Autumn Nations Cup

[JP14]

In my opinion, this is another of Jones' teasers (remember Jack Nowell as a 7?).

If he is serious, I'm not sure, I'm all for interchangeable players but 9 forwards?

[LE18]

In my opinion, this is another of Jones' teasers (remember Jack Nowell as a 7?).

If he is serious, I'm not sure, I'm all for interchangeable players but 9 forwards?

Earl to be selected on the wing is what he is considering. Not in the set piece. A forward playing in the backs but with extra cover for the forwards.

[Scott1]

In my opinion, this is another of Jones' teasers (remember Jack Nowell as a 7?).

If he is serious, I'm not sure, I'm all for interchangeable players but 9 forwards?

Earl to be selected on the wing is what he is considering. Not in the set piece. A forward playing in the backs but with extra cover for the forwards.

Maybe work against Georgia or one of the lesser teams,a team with any kind of decent kicking game would isolate him and take him to pieces. Be worse than Henshaw at FB for Ireland v England!

[Chobbsy]

In my opinion, this is another of Jones' teasers (remember Jack Nowell as a 7?).

If he is serious, I'm not sure, I'm all for interchangeable players but 9 forwards?

Earl to be selected on the wing is what he is considering. Not in the set piece. A forward playing in the backs but with extra cover for the forwards.

Maybe work against Georgia or one of the lesser teams,a team with any kind of decent kicking game would isolate him and take him to pieces. Be worse than Henshaw at FB for Ireland v England!

Or even worse than Furbank at fullback ......... ah maybe not

[Scott1]

Earl to be selected on the wing is what he is considering. Not in the set piece. A forward playing in the backs but with extra cover for the forwards.

Maybe work against Georgia or one of the lesser teams,a team with any kind of decent kicking game would isolate him and take him to pieces. Be worse than Henshaw at FB for Ireland v England!

Or even worse than Furbank at fullback ......... ah maybe not

I thought he was better v Italy,deserves another chance but he’s only keeping the shirt warm for Steward anyway

[LE18]

Maybe work against Georgia or one of the lesser teams,a team with any kind of decent kicking game would isolate him and take him to pieces. Be worse than Henshaw at FB for Ireland v England!

Or even worse than Furbank at fullback ......... ah maybe not

I thought he was better v Italy,deserves another chance but he’s only keeping the shirt warm for Steward anyway

Furbank may yet surprise you and others, when Saints were having their really good run, he was superb as an attacking fullback, I think he could well show some of that form again when he gains confidence and feels comfortable in being selected for England. I am no Saints fan but they do have some good youngsters!
Incidentally Jones played 9 forwards when he was coach to Japan, guess who the opponents were, yes Georgia.

[mol2]

It could be a possibility to risk having a mobile back row on the bench who could potentially come on and fill in at centre. However even a quick flanker would be outgassed by any half decent wing. They might keep up for a while but lugging the bulk that comes with being a back row will see them slow down quickly and get exposed.

The opposition would identify the player and kick behind them time after time with their own winger bearing down. How many would even make a decent fist of kicking from hand? None that I could think of so full back would be plain daft.

[LE18]

It could be a possibility to risk having a mobile back row on the bench who could potentially come on and fill in at centre. However even a quick flanker would be outgassed by any half decent wing. They might keep up for a while but lugging the bulk that comes with being a back row will see them slow down quickly and get exposed.

The opposition would identify the player and kick behind them time after time with their own winger bearing down. How many would even make a decent fist of kicking from hand? None that I could think of so full back would be plain daft.

We will just have to wait and see, but Jones selecting Earl on the wing is a strong possibility according to the papers I read.

[JP14]

Players like Earl and Sam Simmonds are quick enough to do a job in most positions but I'm sorry I fail to see what Jones would gain from this, you wouldn't do this against the Boks or All Blacks? Taking the mick out of Georgia quite frankly.

[mol2]

Players like Earl and Sam Simmonds are quick enough to do a job in most positions but I'm sorry I fail to see what Jones would gain from this, you wouldn't do this against the Boks or All Blacks? Taking the mick out of Georgia quite frankly.

Quick enough in short bursts but to keep running at high speed is different.

Usain Bolt in a 1500m springs to mind.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Players like Earl and Sam Simmonds are quick enough to do a job in most positions but I'm sorry I fail to see what Jones would gain from this, you wouldn't do this against the Boks or All Blacks? Taking the mick out of Georgia quite frankly.

I think the theory is to test if an extra forward on the park can gain more than is lost

Tbh if a team likes to play with the ball another flanker could upset the rhythm and generate more turnovers. If a team plays predominantly territory then another winger to return the ball could mean more territory gains.

It's about unbalancing the opposition. At the time Jones did this for Japan vs Georgia, Japan were roughly considered a similar standard team. If the experiment goes well for Jones I do expect to see it used against more "established" teams too...

For a long time football was 4-4-2 now you see so many variations on formations. Yes rugby has greater variations between the skillsets required to move positions.

This isn't even new for Jones with England. Lawes is now considered a Lock who can play Flanker. Farrell is a Fly half who plays Centre. Say Earl plays wing, if Ford were say playing Fly half you would expect him to cover the back 3 in defence, gives us more options counter attacking (kicking and a fly half vision for a pass) it also means the 10 channel defensively is covered by a flanker so a strength not a weakness.

Scrums we have a flanker already unbound from the scrum prior to ball release which would mean the opposition may have to rethink their options.

Turnovers you would anticipate more of.

On the flip side there's the defensive reorganizing stage when turned over where a fly half has to move out to the wing. There's more for the other wing and fullback to cover on the outside both in attack and defence.


Not saying it would work on all teams but against a Georgia who are a predominantly forward strength team it may work, whats more if it's effective then I can see us trying it vs a SA too

[mol2]

Or why not just play a big winger like Joe C? Sides tend to work best when players play in their familiar positions.

Don't get me wrong, I do think sides should consider the selections to beat specific opposition band England have a history of not doing that.

The world cup final being a prime example in the front row.

Tony Underwood at 5'7" on one wing Jonah Lomu on the other. Our 6'3" wing Hunter watching in the stands.

[JP14]

I agree Mol about playing Cokanisaga, however is he completely fit? Only 2 professional games since injury if memory serves me correct.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Or why not just play a big winger like Joe C? Sides tend to work best when players play in their familiar positions.

Don't get me wrong, I do think sides should consider the selections to beat specific opposition band England have a history of not doing that.

The world cup final being a prime example in the front row.

Tony Underwood at 5'7" on one wing Jonah Lomu on the other. Our 6'3" wing Hunter watching in the stands.

Think what he's saying is what if he wants an extra flanker in the defensive line. Not a big winger he doesn't want a Joe C because what he actually wants is a flanker not a winger who can help cover on the flank. He's saying the main focus of the player would be a flanker, just covering a few bits of a wingers role, because we're one light. The whole point of this is rather than go for a big winger to do this role he's going for a specialist as his role on the park will more be flanker than winger.

Just as if he picks an extra winger who only plays in the scrum when needed his role is a winger primarily and he's covering the lack of a flanker in the scrum similar to when someone is sin binned a player often pushes at flank in the scrum.

[Tigerbeat]

Sometimes you have to think outside the box with selections and tactics.
Anyone remember the tactics that Italy adopted against England........