Having had time to assess our performance against Ireland, and to take the tournament as a whole, it seems clear to me that it is not a fault with the players but the attitude and mentality of the coaches, specifically Eddie Jones.
Over 2020 our game plan narrowed, it started to become about slow pace, one out rugby with up n unders time after time after time. We neither respected position or possession. Rather than build upon our attack (which with the player at our disposal and coaching of Simon Amor) Jones decided to ‘hide it until the 2023 world cup’!
Then came the 2021 six nations, folllowing a very uninspired Autumn nations cup. Jones club of personal preference began. Players became undroppable, favouritism replaced form. How else can you explain picking players such as Vunipola, Daly, Farrell when the likes of Dombrant, the Simmonds brothers, Malins were bang in form (at least we got the latter towards the end). But then you look at Ben Young’s, a player who’s form is consistent in its inconsistency. And blows hot and cold More times than my Dyson. Constantly leaving Robson on the bench and not playing Randall, although injury curtailed that chance. There is also an argument why Marcus Smith should be included, he has been performing very well in an inspired Harlequins team this season, but Jones preferred his tried and truste.......no hang on....tried and personally favoured. But remember these selections are from the man who said “selection is not important” so should we be surprised? We have players literally banging down the door who deserved selection, yet this last 18 months has demonstrated we have a head coach without the ability to do so.
What is infuriating is that this England selection can perform, France proved this point. The above choices would have simply strengthened an already capable team, whilst also keeeping performance standards high, whilst making those out of form realise there is no irreplaceable man. The red rose shirts are borrowed only, and should be worn with a sense of duty and privilege to give your all for the shirt and to respect the history of those that have worn it.
And maybe that leads me to my key thought. History and culture, playing for England is and always will be a privilege, it is a demonstration you are at the top of your game, you are out there to represent those that have been before and those that will follow. If you get the gravitas of this, you get England’s culture. You feel the rose beating in you, you look to the stands at Twickenham, the car park around HQ on match days, the road from the train station, the hoards in Twickers and around the country to their homes, their pubs, their rugby clubs, white shirts adorned, hopes high and excitement palpable. You understand the excitement as the build up in test week starts, not only at Pennyhill Park, but all of us at home, at work, pouring over reports and media just to get a tiny insight into our chances. You recognise that while you are in the team meeting, countless others are having similar excitable conversations with their friends and family over a cup of tea or a glass of ale. And when you see the magnificent stands of Twickenham as you approach, the golden lions over the gates, you hear he cheers of those that support and give up so much of their time and themselves to the game and the country they love as you walk to the changing rooms and see the names of those before you at your seat. And as you run out into the stadium to a cacophony of passionate support and hope, and when you belt out your anthem, if you do not feel that privilege then, then you will never play like your life depends on it and those playing standards from all will never be consistently high enough for us to achieve what we all would love to achieve.
Yet all Eddie Jones sees is a building with lots of seats and a changing room he calls ‘the sheds’. No man who sets up a team like he does, provides a style that inhibits rather than releases, that picks favourites over form, and sees Twickenham as bricks and mortar can ever truly understand what it means to us all, and cannot lead us to a successful future.
Sometime when you're feeling important;
Sometime when your ego 's in bloom;
Sometime when you take it for granted,
You're the best qualified in the room:
Sometime when you feel that your going,
Would leave an unfillable hole,
Just follow these simple instructions,
And see how they humble your soul.
Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that's remaining,
Is a measure of how much you'll be missed.
You can splash all you wish when you enter,
You may stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you'll find that in no time,
It looks quite the same as before.
The moral of this quaint example,
Is to do just the best that you can,
Be proud of yourself but remember,
There's no indispensable man
Saxon White Kessinger
Topic: England & Eddie Jones: Post six nations 2021 thoughts. (Read 2432 times)
Always a Wasp