Team for Tonga

[SDHoneymonster]

I think Hill is significantly better than Ewels and should start ahead of him. I also rate Isiekwe. I think we miss Launchbury badly.

Thinking back to Hill previously giving away daft penalties and our 2nd row performance post-Kruis (who I always thought was over-rated in pure individual playing terms), I suppose there are leadership questions. Is Itoje level-headed enough or is he just trying too hard?

I have two thoughts. One, should Jones work on a club pairing to get the best out of Itoje i.e. look anew at Isiekwe. Two, should Jones bite the bullet on captaincy and pick a forward in the role?

Taking that further, with reports of Lawes in some sort of leadership guise (read that somewhere) surely for the AIs the obvious experienced pairing is Itoje/Lawes. I quite like Lawes at 6 and I always want a back-row line-out option but at this stage?

Itoje and Lawes as a second row leaves the scrum underpowered and imbalanced (both ideally want to scrum in the same position) is the thinking, I've read somewhere, I think from Charlie Morgan. They'd like a beefier bastard to partner Maro, so I think it's going to be Hill and Itoje for the Autumn.

[Danno]

Telegraph reporting that someone in camp ("backroom staff") has tested positive, which has delayed the squad announcement.

ETA To 12.15pm

[SDHoneymonster]

Cue outrage!

[Danno]

Cue outrage!

Oh god what's he done now

[SDHoneymonster]

Cue outrage!

Oh god what's he done now

Smith on the bench! Although I suspect the fact he's been carrying an injury in the week might have something to do with it?

[Danno]

Indeed. I hope he doesn't get Dunned. And Farrell won't come off so the backline gets a massive reshuffle if Smith does see the pitch.

Can Furbank play wing?

[Puja]

Genge
George
Sinckler
Itoje
Hill
Lawes
Underhill
Curry

Youngs
Farrell
May
Manu
Slade
Radwan
Steward

Bench: Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Smith, Furbank

[Puja]

Cue outrage!

There's gonna be a lot of casuals gnashing their teeth this week, isn't there?

Puja

[Peej]

As expected really

[Epaminondas Pules]

Good side that, especially considering the injuries in the week.

[Peej]

It's a pretty meaningless game, this Tonga side won't do much. So we've got an average midfield that will come out looking great. I would rather have seen Atkinson play 12 and Manu at 13.

[Puja]

Indeed. I hope he doesn't get Dunned. And Farrell won't come off so the backline gets a massive reshuffle if Smith does see the pitch.

Can Furbank play wing?

He can, although I think it's more likely that Steward would cover there.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

It's a pretty meaningless game, this Tonga side won't do much. So we've got an average midfield that will come out looking great. I would rather have seen Atkinson play 12 and Manu at 13.

Why?

[Oakboy]

I can nit-pick but the worst aspect is simply that the team does not make me glow with eager anticipation.

Maybe, a declared fine system whereby it costs Youngs or Farrell £500 every time either of them kick in open play would cheer me up. I was hoping to see something (anything) different.

[Digby]

If this side cannot play at pace there's an awful lot for Manu to do getting the side on the front foot. Not the fastest side either outside the wings

[fivepointer]

Jones is a dunderhead and this team is a joke.

[Mikey Brown]

If this side cannot play at pace there's an awful lot for Manu to do getting the side on the front foot. Not the fastest side either outside the wings

Yeah you wonder how Lawes in the backrow fits in to this fast-paced game we (supposedly) want to play.

[Mr Mwenda]

Let's hope Hill finally gets the hang of test level. He has really been jolly lucky.

[jngf]

Genge
George
Sinckler
Itoje
Hill
Lawes
Underhill
Curry

Youngs
Farrell
May
Manu
Slade
Radwan
Steward

Bench: Blamire, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Smith, Furbank

So Eddy thinks Curry’s a better no.8 than Dombrandt - totally nutty!

[twitchy]

Another England campaign has brought more inevitably contentious selection decisions to chew over. As the two-year countdown to the 2023 World Cup begins, here is the thinking behind three big calls.
Tom Curry’s move is all about chemistry… and potential

A headline selection, which may stir confusion and consternation, is Tom Curry’s return to start at the base of England’s scrum for the first time in 18 months.

The 23-year-old seemed to be a stop-gap experiment there after Billy Vunipola fractured his arm last January. However, he wears eight against Tonga despite Vunipola’s omission. Callum Chick, Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds were selected in training squads, but they must wait.

Critics will feel this is a regressive option, especially if they dwell on Curry’s struggles during a 24-17 loss to France. Test matches can stick in the mind because they are relatively rare. Curry settled into the new position quickly and performed well over England’s three victories against Scotland, Ireland and Wales before the 2020 Six Nations was halted due to COVID-19.

A back-row combination of Courtney Lawes, Sam Underhill and Curry gives England a cohesive lineout operation with a world-class jumper to complement the locks. Defensively, there can be few more imposing trios on the planet.

Attacking evolution must be a theme of this month, and Eddie Jones has challenged Curry to improve that area of his game in the same manner that Richie McCaw did towards the end of his storied New Zealand career. Another All Black, Ardie Savea, set the standard for explosive carrying against Wales last weekend.

To his credit, Curry has shown remarkable adaptability so far, excelling at both openside and blindside flanker. Might number eight even end up as his best position?

He is already a rounded attacker. On club duty with Sale Sharks, he is a chief distributor away from the tail of mauls – one of the underappreciated responsibilities that Billy Vunipola fulfilled for England. Curry cuts incisive angles in midfield and has the athleticism to pose problems out wide. Expect the new system of Martin Gleeson to present him with running opportunities in the 15-metre channels.

As Telegraph Sport hinted after the British and Irish Lions tour, shifting Curry to eight is one way of retaining the chemistry shared by him and Underhill, one of England’s most valuable individuals. Curry’s discipline lapsed on the Lions tour at openside flanker. Underhill’s menace always seems slightly more controlled from number seven, and his muscular carrying has been a bright spot for Bath.

Theoretically, the link play and intuition of Dombrandt gives England a higher ceiling. That said, careful thought must be given to how to integrate him at Test level. The hope is that a confidence-boosting cameo from the bench, as part of a dominant pack eking out momentum so Dombrandt can hunt the shoulders of fellow replacement Marcus Smith, can be the start of something special.
Ellis Genge starter rather than super sub – and a lineout weapon

This call is not particularly curious, although Joe Marler was probably the most influential player over the course of the 2020-21 Premiership season. Just about every week, he ensured the Harlequins scrum bullied their opponents. Two mammoth performances in the semi-final and final capped his remarkable campaign.

England are a stronger squad for Marler being back in the fold. That said, Ellis Genge could not have begun this season with a more convincing demonstration of his leadership and prowess with Leicester Tigers. He has captained his club to the top of the league table without compromising on snarl and set-piece prowess.

In the context of Jones targeting the lineout as an attacking platform, Genge can be an important hole-puncher. He is regularly launched in midfield by Leicester



Tonga were sliced and diced by Scotland last weekend but should be more robust than Canada were in July. Still, the dynamic carrying of Genge helps to balance a pack shorn of Billy Vunipola.

Genge’s threat, perhaps in harness with a charging Manu Tuilagi, will fix plenty of defenders. If either one of them receive a pass, England should puncture the gain-line and generate quick ruck ball. If they are used as decoys, space should open up elsewhere for Owen Farrell and Henry Slade to feed the speed.

This would represent a 12th start for Genge on the occasion of his 31st England cap. He has been patient. Few would dispute that he has earned it, and a central role awaits as one of three vice-captains alongside Curry and Lawes.
An experienced midfield to help others settle

Again, Jones will be accused of conservatism over the make-up of his backline. From scrum-half to outside centre, this is just about as experienced a combination as the Australian could possibly field. Like the pack, though, the backline exhibits his desire for balance.

A midfield of Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade started wins over Ireland and Australia in 2019, which remain two of the most complete performances under Jones. They were all on the pitch – admittedly with George Ford – for some sparkling attack against Wales in the 2020 Six Nations as well.

The left foot of Slade offers kicking variety under the 50-22 law and Tuilagi’s ballast ensures that England should not often become stodgy in phase-play. If conditions are sympathetic at Twickenham on Saturday, a clunky and kick-heavy display against Tonga will be inexcusable. Intensity and intent are vital.

In the back three, Jonny May’s know-how off-sets the inexperience of two much fresher faces. He should help Freddie Steward and Adam Radwan with the nuances of positioning. The former is exceptional under the high ball, which will hopefully help England achieve their aim of becoming a more dangerous team on the counter.

Radwan will be encouraged to hunt the ball and use his mesmerising footwork all over the field. Again, May can show the way in this regard. Learning about Steward and Radwan, whether they are ready for the Wallabies and whether they are capable of enhancing England on the road to 2023, must be a priority. Unearthing a backline gem feels important. Max Malins and Raffi Quirke should get opportunities later this month.

Speaking of potentially transformative players, Marcus Smith’s place on the bench has been encouraged by the niggle he was carrying at the start of this week. A soft launch for his autumn will underwhelm England supporters heading for Twickenham.

But Jones has said that he wants the home crowd to be captivated throughout the game. Giving at least half an hour to Smith would be a good way to ward off Mexican waves.

[Danno]

Thanks Twitchy.

I wish Morgan would leave the paywalled Torygraph, he's one of the better writers around.

[Digby]

If this side cannot play at pace there's an awful lot for Manu to do getting the side on the front foot. Not the fastest side either outside the wings

Yeah you wonder how Lawes in the backrow fits in to this fast-paced game we (supposedly) want to play.

I suppose it allows Dombrandt an easier introduction. The off the ball work and the work into contact just isn't something he's yet established at test level, and that he can more easily ease into.

But yes, Lawes has improved on the carry, and has improved off the ball hugely on attack, and still it's... lacking a certain thrill

[Peej]

It's a pretty meaningless game, this Tonga side won't do much. So we've got an average midfield that will come out looking great. I would rather have seen Atkinson play 12 and Manu at 13.

Why?

Because I think Manu is better at 13, I don't think Slade offers that much, and if Smith is ever going to play 10 Farrell will certainly play 12. So if Farrell is going to play 10, why not try something new at 12?

[Stom]

It’s to be expected, tbh. I’d prefer dombrandt over Lawes, I think everyone would, but with the injuries, that’s the best e we could have done. Except, of course, I would have Marchant over Slade every day of the week.

[Peej]

I'd actually forgotten about Marchant