Expert Witness: Rob Andrew previews Cook Cup clash
In our last Expert Witness, we welcome back former England and British & Irish Lions fly-half Rob Andrew to preview the Cook Cup clash and to reflect on a remarkable performance last weekend by Ireland.
Together standing tall
The big talking point of the weekend was Ireland’s magnificent victory in Dublin against the World Cup holders New Zealand.
A breathtaking game played at breakneck pace illustrated just how good the two sides are and how little there is to choose between them. Former England pivot Andrew believes that the gap between the North and the South is lessening and that this game was a showcase of just how fine the margins are:
“The so-called gap is closing,” he observed.
“If you list the last six month’s results between the top six or eight sides, then there’s been so many games decided by a point or two or a score that it demonstrates that the international game is very competitive right now, despite the All Blacks still being the benchmark.
“In New Zealand’s recent games, South Africa won one Test away in Wellington and lost another at home, one that they should have won bar a load of nonsensical replacements at the end, Ireland have two wins from their last three outings and England, with no real form whatsoever, lost by one point trying very hard to find a way to lose!” he quipped.
“Ireland were phenomenal and they won the game via the back-row battle, almost unheard of! CJ Stander, Peter O’Mahony and Josh van der Flier were incredible in their defence and ruck work, although it has to be said that Liam Squire and Ardie Savea aren’t quite playing at the level of their predecessors in their positions and I actually feel they’re a little vulnerable in that area as it stands.
“The simple truth is the All Blacks are no longer invincible and provided you match their intensity for 80 minutes and no less, they’re beatable.”
Owning the scoreboard
“With margins now so fine, Test rugby has more and more become about owning the scoreboard. Using the pressure of one and two-point leads during the game to force errors.
“Everything revolves about decision making under pressure, winning the critical moments of the game and taking every point on offer, something England failed to do when they played.
“It astonishes me how much the drop-goal has gone out of fashion in the game. It’s almost impossible to defend it, many sides often have two fly-halves on the field in the last 20 minutes or so and in a tight game, nothing is more demoralising for the opposition as that empty feeling when you almost ‘steal’ three points.
“In at least four or five tight games this season, there’s been the chance to take that drop, yet I’ve not seen the intent there to take it. It’s very puzzling.
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“It took me five years to convince Jonny Wilkinson just how effective they can be in game management. As things turned out, I’m glad he listened to me.
“In cricket, there’s an old adage that good skippers do what their opponents least want them to do, and it’s no different in rugby, and that little three pointer takes away much of the momentum of a side playing catch up.
“I am simply astonished that international sides don’t appear to have latched onto this and put the option into their playbook,” concluded Andrew, a man that dropped a world record 23 goals in 76 Tests.
Advance Australia
Looking forward to the Cook Cup match with Australia, England go into the game with form and performances that could be described as patchy at best, or totally inconsistent at worst.
Australia must have worries about their ability to cross the try-line against the very best and despite a win versus Italy, they showed no sort of form against Wales.
The game looks loaded in England’s favour yet any form book is always ripped up when England host their Southern Hemisphere cousins, but Andrew believes England have found a few answers and some new options during this season:
“I am really pleased that we’re starting to get a little more balance into the side.
“It’s pretty obvious now that Owen Farrell is our best 10, the only issue there is he’s also our best 12 too! The option is to pick a playmaking fly-half or a distributing centre and at the moment the latter isn’t obvious.
“Ironically, the back-row balance is currently informing our centre selection. The starting back-rows that Eddie Jones has picked so far haven’t had the power carriers in it due to Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes’ absences. This means Eddie tends to look for that big 12 or 13 in the shape of Ben Te’o or Manu Tuilagi (if fit).
“It’s interesting that the absence of the two big men has allowed us to let the talents of Mark Wilson, Sam Underhill and Tom Curry to flourish and Jones will be delighted in their progress, particularly that of the outstanding Wilson, who can cover all three loose forward positions. I am looking forward to seeing a fully fit side where I believe we’ll see Mark on the blindside, with one of Underhill or Curry at seven and Big Billy at eight. That trio have got balance, power and pace in abundance, although it wouldn’t surprise me if Eddie opts for one of the big locks at six for this Test.
“On the downside, big question marks remain over scrum-halves and it’s testimony to the lack of depth we have that the doughty Richard Wigglesworth, who I admire greatly, will be 36 when RWC 2019 comes around. It’s a shame Dan Robson is crocked and I am sure he’d featured had he been available,” noted Andrew.
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Wobbly Wallabies
“Despite the fact Australia have lost four of their last 12 Tests, and that in Eddie’s reign he’s not lost to his home country you never write the Wallabies off when they play England.
“They really are in a poor vein of form and most worryingly, they’re not scoring tries with the freedom that we have come to expect from their intuitive running style.
“Rumours are abounding that their camp has suffered a stomach bug during the week, and that their influential loose forward David Pocock is not available, but Eddie and Michael Cheika have a long history of pre-match banter and disinformation in the press, despite the fact they get on very well socially and have known each other many years!
“I think it’s fair to say they love winding each other up and it’s all done with a big grin on each other’s faces!” laughed Andrew.
“Again, the loose forward battle is key and Australia are right up there with Ireland and the All Blacks in terms of the number of turnovers they create in a game. Like New Zealand, they clamp hard and their second man into contact, usually Pocock or Hooper, will really look to attack the ball on the floor. England need to prevent them clamping in the jackal and turning over slow ball.”
He added: “Jonny May used to be so unpredictable that in one of his early Tests I think he ran as far sideways as he did straight.”
“However, from being a player thought of as bit of a loose cannon, he’s literally lapped up every bit of rugby knowledge that he can. He’s transformed his rugby IQ through pure hard work. No player has a better workrate than May; whether it be chasing kicks, trying to win restarts or scramble defending, he’s striving to become involved and his decision making is excellent.
“In the final analysis, as I said, you never right off the Wallabies. This will be another of those close Tests and owning the scoreboard and taking EVERY scoring opportunity will be key, but I do fancy England to close the year off with a win by one score and finish 2018 off in style,” concluded Andrew.
Once again, we thank Rob for his time and Expert Witness looks forward to returning in 2019, an epic year for World Rugby.
Rob Andrew MBE was a world-class fly half in the colours of England and the British and Irish Lions. He won 71 caps for England and five for the Lions, for whom he masterminded a series win in Australia in 1989. He dropped a world Test record of 23 field goals. After leaving the RFU in 2016, Andrew, who has scored a first class century at Trent Bridge, moved sports in 2017 and is now the CEO at Sussex County Cricket Club.
Rob is also an active Lords Taverner, raising money to help disabled and disadvantaged children through cricket. He is speaking at the Taverner’s Xmas Lunch with former England bat Jonathan Trott and footballer Mark Lawrenson; details of tickets are available here.