sport news Eddie Jones is not selecting the right team for the opposition trends now

sport news Eddie Jones is not selecting the right team for the opposition trends now
sport news Eddie Jones is not selecting the right team for the opposition trends now

sport news Eddie Jones is not selecting the right team for the opposition trends now

England have been on a downward spiral since the 2019 World Cup final and defeat by a 14-man Australia side in Perth did nothing to change that. That fact is clear to anyone who has a real passion for English rugby.

The No1 skill you need as an international rugby coach is selection. Eddie Jones has changed a lot since walking into the England job. Selection was never his strength, but now his lack of understanding around this most important element of the England job is costing the team big time.

Eddie is simply not picking the right team based on the game he needs to play to win at the top level. The game continues to move on but he has not. Eddie reverted to type. He picked a powerful team to hammer Australia and put his trust in his go-to players.

International coaches need to be able to judge selection perfectly - Eddie Jones does not

International coaches need to be able to judge selection perfectly - Eddie Jones does not 

There is just not enough pace in this England side, which is highlighted by Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes. Both should be in the starting team but at fly-half and second row respectively. Doing that would allow for players with the extra pace England are lacking.

People will be talking about Henry Arundell’s brilliant late try. As good as Arundell’s score was, it must not take away from the fact England were well beaten. Before Arundell and Jack van Poortvliet crossed right at the death, England were losing 30-14 in the 78th minute against an Australia team who played 46 minutes with 14 men.

The game was dead and buried, Australia had the game won. That was a true reflection of the match and how poor England were, not the final score of 30-28.

Henry Arundell's late try did a lot to mask England's issues and made the game appear closer than it actually was

Henry Arundell's late try did a lot to mask England's issues and made the game appear closer than it actually was 

I had thought England would be good enough to win by five or six points and they should have done just that had they played well.

I must stress that was not me agreeing with selection, it was just looking at both teams. But this England side are just not quick enough. Playing a mercurial fly-half such as Marcus Smith only works if you have the game plan and players around him to match. If you pick him, back him all the way.

Losing a fourth straight game and suffering a first defeat by Australia since 2015 is bad but just as disappointing is the England selection and the way we are playing now.

The red card to Darcy Swain in the first half should have ensured England won the game comfortably

The red card to Darcy Swain in the first half should have ensured England won the game comfortably 

I wrote before this series that we need to find out if Smith and Farrell can play together in midfield. We saw nothing of their partnership bearing fruit in Perth. In the first half Farrell once sent Tom Curry through a gap but it was an isolated incident. Smith and Farrell swapped places at first receiver but the attack did not fire, mainly due to the lack of pace outside them. By contrast, Australia’s backs scored an excellent try through Jordan Petaia, even with a numerical deficit. England then fell away when under pressure. England’s only real threat until the game was already lost was the rolling maul.

It is going

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