Expert Witness: Lewis Moody on weekend and Underhill
With another big weekend of Test Rugby ahead of us, former England skipper Lewis Moody rejoins Expert Witness to examine the games and to talk all things back-row.
The Perfect Seven
With wins for Australia, England, Ireland and New Zealand, the second weekend of the November Tests went pretty much according to plan and form. Talking points included South Africa’s continued decline and England’s ability to win ugly but Moody is enthused to see the young tyro flanker, Sam Underhill, emerge with credit in the England seven shirt, a position Moody graced for many years:
“I think people always tend to underestimate Argentina’s physicality and how long it takes you to break them down,” he observed.
“The Pumas were at times, a little woeful in their creativity but equally, they were very disruptive. It wasn’t really until Alex Lozowski seared through the midfield that England unlocked their defence convincingly.
“A few people mentioned that Eddie Jones had given the team a bit of a beasting in the week leading up to the Test and in truth, they looked as if they were not quite firing on all cylinders with little issues such as sluggish service from the base and a reversion to the big carry slowing our gameplan down.
“Squad depth is a real key within all international sides these days and with a pretty long injury list, compounded by the decision to rest our two stand-out players in Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell, meant we saw new combinations that took time to bed in.
“What’s really good news is a couple of those changes really put their hands up for their shirt, in particular Lozowski, and the young Bath openside Sam Underhill, who showed a real physical edge to his game all afternoon.
“I think for a long period of time there’s been this clamour in England to find what is whimsically called a ‘real openside’. But what is quite mystifying is various law changes have meant that the duties of that player have actually changed quite dramatically during that period,” joked Moody.
“We saw the period where the over the ball jackler ruled the game; then we saw the fashion for destructive carriers, and now, with the ruck laws showing a little more balance, a more rounded player is needed, destructive in the contact but intelligent around the park and Underhill certainly seems to have those qualities.
“I’ve seen Sam around at Bath quite a bit and he’s a real unit; athletic with a tremendous workrate and a machine in terms of his tackle count.
“But when you look at his game in detail, you realise there’s a decent intellect on the lad too. He is very decisive on whether to commit or not and will look to pick the right battle to win, on the floor or in the tackle. His speed to recycle himself back into the game is exceptional and that allowed England to make him one of their defensive leaders in his third game for them.
“If you include those on the injured list, with Nathan Hughes also improving with every game, Robshaw putting in his usual tireless performances and options with Lawes and Maro, England’s back-row riches look exciting now and I feel it’s now just about getting the right level of balance into the trio,” noted Moody.
Too Many Cooks
“Looking forward to the Cook Cup, this is a battle I know very well and I can assure you when England play Australia the form book means nothing.
“Returning to Underhill, he will relish the opportunity he has to take on the best seven in the game, Michael Hooper, and I am looking forward to that one immensely.
“Hooper is a real mongrel; small, but incredibly powerful and dynamic. When I played against him at the end of my career he defined the word ‘nuisance’, able to get past the ruck ball on the floor and create havoc, but with the pace to support and carry to create that extra man in the wide channel and is an exceptional operator.
“But Australia are perhaps lacking their rapier edge with Israel Folau on sabbatical and new combinations in the pack. Eddie will make changes bringing back the world class levels of Farrell and Itoje and with England’s control, strength and depth, I feel this will be enough to see them home in a tough contest,” concluded Moody.
The Big Differences
South Africa travel to Paris on Saturday in a state of turmoil after a record loss against Ireland in Dublin and Moody fears for the fate of the Springboks, a side who seem to have abdicated their usual values of physicality and power in recent months:
“In fairness, the Boks simply got a bit of a pasting,” he quipped.
“What stood out for me was the sheer gulf in class in the half-backs and midfield, where Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton were light years ahead of their opponents and absolutely ran the show, with options, pace, speed of thought and changes in point of attack.
“I also believe South Africa were incredibly naive with regards to understanding Ireland’s game. November, Dublin, under lights on a wet day tends to mean one thing; an aerial onslaught! And the Boks’ inability to see that coming and deal with it was farcical.
“You don’t try and take Ireland on in Dublin with a physical kicking contest; trust me, you will lose! South Africa have long been matched in that respect and their inability to switch tactics on the hoof was obvious.
“Travelling to France, I fear for them. The French put up a decent showing in many respects against the ever outstanding New Zealand and that will give them a little bit of confidence for this match, which could be an absolute corker of a game.”
The Black Machine
New Zealand, who on Saturday were rocked at times by the speed of France’s offload game, and had the hosts scored again midway in the second half after Steve Hansen had removed his talisman Kieran Read, the last quarter would have been compelling.
With Scotland stuttering past Samoa in a bruising encounter the scene seems set for yet another All Black win:
“I actually think the Samoa Test may have done Scotland a bit of a favour in so far as it’s a wake up call for them and that they’ve been pushed in their first game.
“I don’t believe the Scots have quite the power to beat the mighty All Blacks (I mean who does?) however, they’re very much an improving side and the measure will be how take the challenge on,” concluded Moody.
The Welsh Way
Wales have a little banana skin this weekend as they host the huge Georgians. Much was made last weekend of the ‘New Way’ with Owen Williams coming into the 12 berth as a second receiver, yet injury and fortune have conspired to remove the world class talent of Jonathan Davies from the Welsh ranks:
“Yes, Wales showed real intent in announcing the selections and I felt, provided their front-row could stay in the game, that they’d go well. It is devastating for Wales and the game to lose a player of the attacking genius of Jonathan Davies and I wish The Fox a speedy recovery.
“However, when you see that Wales have no real option but to recall the veteran Jamie Roberts at centre, a man totally the opposite from Davies’ style, then you see the importance in the modern game of the depth of a squad,” observed the former England skipper.
“I do feel Wales are in a bit of a Groundhog Day loop, especially where Australia and New Zealand are concerned. Georgia is a welcome breathing space for them before the big Test versus the All Blacks the following weekend.
“Gatland’s men need not only to win but to put in a performance that prepares them for New Zealand and underlines their stated ambition of a more attacking style. The injury to Davies has robbed them of a key architect of that gameplan and they face a real battle to get the Welsh show back in the road again.”
We thank Lewis for his time once more and Expert Witness returns next week with another former great of the game.
Lewis Moody MBE, a tearaway flanker, played 71 times for England and appeared in one Test for the British and Irish Lions. He was a key member of the England’s World Cup winning side in 2003 and skippered England in the 2011 RWC. He will forever be remembered for winning the lineout that led to ‘that drop goal’.
He now spends his free time promoting his children’s charity, http://www.thelewismoodyfoundation.org/ which raises funds worldwide for children suffering from brain tumours and runs his own coaching academy, mentoring the player of tomorrow: http://maddogsport.com/
Lewis was speaking to James While