– House of Rugby, Together with GUINNESS –
England’s starting XV to take on the Springboks at the beginning of next month will have quite a few changes from the team that lost the summer’s Test Series 2-1 in South Africa.
Victory in that final Test restored some English pride, and confidence, but November brings some severe, southern hemisphere challenges. A rejuvenated South Africa are up first, in Twickenham, followed by New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
Eddie Jones named a 36-man training squad, last week, and recalled winger Chris Ashton along with Manu Tuilagi, Ben Morgan and more. 11 senior internationals are unavailable due to injury while back-row James Haskell received a call from Jones to tell him he had some more targets to hit before he could hope for a recall.
Haskell joined host Alex Payne and former England star Nick Kennedy on House of Rugby – JOE’s new rugby show – and took part in an interesting debate about the make-up of England’s starting XV to take on the Boks.
Watch the second episode in JOE’s House of Rugby podcast, Together with GUINNESS…
The first talking point was who should take the No.8 jersey now that Billy Vunipola is out with another arm fracture – Zach Mercer (Bath) or Ben Morgan (Gloucester). Haskell commented:
“I looked at all the different [back row] permutations and the interesting one is going to be Maro Itoje and what happens with him… We’ve got a Courtney Lawes in there [second row] but, obviously, Joe Launchbury is out. You’d want to, maybe, put Maro in the second row and have a slightly different back row.
“I think Tom Curry is probably going to start at 7. Then, do you put Brad Shields at 6, even though he has played 8 a number of times. Or do you put Morgan at 8 and Shields at 6? Depending on that make-up of the back row, it should allow you to play Zach Mercer. He does hit above his weight, he carries well and he’s physical…
“You’d probably go with Ben Morgan for the opening game, but then you need to give Zach that exposure.”
Kennedy, who was a combative lock for London Irish and England, agrees with Haskell on the ‘Morgan for South Africa’ shout but he would definitely start Mercer in November, with one eye on the 2019Â World Cup.
Both men are in agreement, too, about the fit and in-form Manu Tuilagi returning to the England midfield. The Leicester Tigers star has not lined out for England since a March 2016 victory over Wales.
Teaming the 27-year-old up with Owen Farrell, and with Tigers’ George Ford at outhalf, could bring some real attacking spark to the England attack.
As for Haskell’s recall ambitions, Haskell was as upfront and honest as ever. “For all the bravado and bluster I come out with,” he said, “my sole objective every day is to try and be an England rugby player again, and experience it again.
“It was my dream as a young player and now, as a slightly more senior player, it still burns as bright as ever. I know what an honour and a privilege it is.”
Subscribe here to JOE’s House of Rugby:Â https://playpodca.st/house-of-rugby
Episode two looks at Danny Cipriani’s red card, Christian Wade’s NFL dream, autumn internationals and when England coach Martin Johnson thought James Haskell was a mole in the camp.
