Changes Eddie Jones should consider when picking his side to face Italy
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Changes Eddie Jones should consider when picking his side to face Italy
Eddie Jones' voice will be ringing through the ears of the England players this weekend after his charges produced a lacklustre performance against Scotland.
Eddie Jones questioned whether Scotland could handle the "weight of expectation" in the build-up to game but in the end, it was his side that came up short in their first game of 2021.
Ahead of the tournament, the clash against Italy looked like a game where Eddie Jones could test a few players and see how they take to test rugby with the likes of uncapped Harry Randall and Paolo Odogwu in his squad. However the landscape of the tournament has changed significantly and Jones will know that a win, and a big at that, is needed against Italy.
We take a look at a few changes that Eddie Jones should consider when selecting his team.
Start Courtney Lawes?
England's lineout was solid and smooth in 2020 with Jamie George regularly hitting his jumper but that changed against Scotland. Two of England's lineouts were picked off by Scottish jumpers while the set piece was put under pressure the entire game. Bringing Lawes into the starting XV could well rectify part of the troubles whether he comes into the second row or even starts on the side of the scrum.
England often kicked the ball but when they did have the ball, they did lack a bit of weight behind their carries with Tom Curry topping that category in the pack with 9. Lawes is physical presences on either side of the ball and would help generate some front foot ball.
Give Harry Randall his debut
After France thumped Italy in their own back yard scoring seven tries, four of which coming in the second, England will need to rack up the points. Adding Harry Randall to the bench to add a breath of fresh air in the final 20 or even 30 minutes of the game could do the world of good.
Dan Robson had a shaky start to his cameo against Scotland and while he did recover well, Randall's willingness on attack could help England pile on the points with Italy tiring.
Reinstate the Ford-Farrell combination
Eddie Jones famously welcomed the media into the modern game during the 2019 Rugby World Cup when he 'changed' George Ford's role for the quarter-final against Australia saying “Come into modern rugby. Join us. Rugby has changed, it’s a 23-man game.” Well, now it looks as if it is time to change his role again.
Jones stunned many when he named Ford on the bench this weekend and while the Leicester Tigers' pivot did look sharp from the bench against Scotland, he may be better served in the starting XV. England wasted a number of promising attacking positions against Scotland and while the territory and kicking game worked well for them in 2020, it had it's faults at Twickenham.
Ford plays a lot more of what he sees in front of him and his partnership with Owen Farrell is an established one to say the least.
Let Earl and Malins run
Ben Earl and Max Malins have been tearing up for Bristol with some excellent running rugby while still doing their core jobs superbly. Handing the pair their first starts in an England jersey would be just reward for their efforts. Both are versatile options which has been the major plus for them on the bench but also provides options if Jones is to start them.
Ben Earl could take any of the back row roles and with Billy Vunipola not hitting the same form as he did during the Autumn Nations Cup, Earl could be a threatening prospect from the back of the scrum while Vunipola adds his weight in the latter stages.
Malins could fill in anywhere in the back three. Slotting him at fullback or at wing could result in a simple switch for Daly or Watson or alternatively Jonny May gets a rest. Either way, Malins has been knocking down the door and if he may just kick it down soon.
