Rugby union is a cyclical sport and it often feels like there is no such thing as a new idea; just old concepts being brought up again for a new run.
On the eve of an intriguing tour for England, which includes a meeting with Eddie Jones in Japan before Steve Borthwick gets two cracks with the All Blacks, the selection debate is getting underway.
Refreshing displays against Ireland and France to round out the Six Nations appeared to boost the team’s stock. Going back to the future by pitting a line-up of ‘probables’ against a gang of ‘possibles’ would map out the summer schedule and re-engage supporters while creating a fascinating spectacle.
As with all initiatives that require administrative hassle, there are numerous hurdles in reviving this traditional form of pilot. A Premiership with ten teams has concentrated talent and produces fascinating head-to-head matches every week. Borthwick has also insisted that he and his staff can gauge a player’s readiness for the Test arena based on training. In this age of rigorous video analysis, the England head coach would certainly shy away from televising a meaningful trial match to paying spectators, which would obviously provide clues and clues to future opponents.
Wales did this ten years ago under Warren Gatland, a fortnight before their two-Test series in South Africa. A likely side, coached by Rob Howley, faced Robin McBryde’s possible chances in Swansea. The former won 55-7, Jonathan Davies scoring a hat-trick. Jordan Williams also scored two tries for the probables.
Ironically, despite his successful performances, he would never win a full cap. Williams, then just 20, had been promoted to the Probables team due to George North’s involvement in the Premiership final between Northampton Saints and Saracens that weekend.
In 2011, during the long summer pre-season before the World Cup, Martin Johnson arranged an intra-squad hit-out behind closed doors at The Stoop. There were two 20-minute halves overseen by Wayne Barnes and thanks to some intrepid journalists who snuck in through a neighboring gym and watched from a balcony, we know that Courtney Lawes was stretchered away and wheeled to hospital with his neck in a brace.
Fortunately for everyone, Lawes was able to travel to New Zealand. And besides, trial games cannot be ignored for safety reasons. Coaches and players often suggest that training can become more intense than testing. One suspects that opening a trial match would lead to tough questions and more scrutiny if a star player for the potential options is then overlooked.
Considering that the power brokers in the English game are apparently on good terms at the moment, and the calendar has a few gaping holes, it certainly wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to find a suitable opportunity. Realistically, there isn’t enough time this year between the Premier League final on June 8 and the showdown with Japan on June 22. Put reality aside for a moment and think about how a pilot date could be factored into future seasons.
Borthwick does an admirable job spinning plates. He gradually reshapes the English style by implementing an aggressive blitz defense while encouraging additional attacking spirit. Meanwhile, he has introduced new faces such as Theo Dan, Chandler Cunningham-South and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. A slightly older group, consisting of Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, George Martin, Ollie Chessum and Ollie Lawrence, is gaining experience as a collective.
A trial match before a campaign would serve several purposes. It would allow the probable to develop coherence and shake off rust, while providing a showcase for the possible. The result doesn’t matter, but the latter are unlikely to be competitive unless given a longer preparation time. But that’s not the point. A coach would look at the possibilities and see how exciting individuals try to impose their game-changing powers on an opponent.
For example, could Raffi Quirke threaten the marginal defense of the likely? Would digging Will Evans frustrate the probables’ phase game? Is Rusi Tuima capable of dominating the winning line like Emmanuel Meafou? Such processes are limited because they will be inherently lopsided and do not provide a level playing field for hopefuls to impress. Still, it will be valuable to see players in that environment, especially as the Rugby Football Union looks to host more England A matches.
Any competition can be marketed as a major event. With Covid taking away the opportunity for crowds, New Zealand’s North and South Islands hosted a sensational competition in Wellington in September 2020. Jordan’s try in the 84th minute, from Richie Mo’unga’s kick-pass, secured a 38-35 victory for the South Island.
Back to England then, and my teams for a possible lawsuit. There’s little point in Joe Marler, Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Cole or Elliot Daly suiting up unless they wanted game time and I’ve left out Tom Curry, Ollie Chessum and Cadan Murley due to injuries, as well as those moving to France. Burnout is clearly a concern, especially in a season following a World Cup, so others like Maro Itoje could be left out.
Even with teams of 26 people, why keep it to 23? – there are notable omissions. I didn’t send Alex Dombrandt or Greg Fisilau to a Battle Royale #8 because Ben Earl, Tom Willis, Alfie Barbeary and Zach Mercer are already there. Locks like Arthur Clark and Joe Batley, as well as Sale Sharks demolition winger Sam Dugdale and Bristol center James Williams, could have made it.
Luke Northmore is preferred over his Harlequins colleague Oscar Beard, and Emmanuel Iyogun and Josh Iosefa-Scott are two props who would deserve run-outs. Josh Hodge, who left the Exeter Chiefs front line in recent weeks, shone for England A and will be back again.
Discussions like this aside, these lineups are enough to get you excited about the depth that Borthwick possesses. Selection must cause him enough headaches without a test match.
Potential teams for a trial in England
Probabilities: 15. George Furbank; 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Ollie Lawrence, 11. Tommy Freeman; 10. George Ford, 9. Alex Mitchell; 1. Fin Baxter, 2. Theo Dan, 3. Will Stuart, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Martin, 6. Chandler Cunningham-South, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Ben Earl
Replacements: 16. Curtis Langdon, 17. Beno Obano, 18. Joe Heyes, 19. Alex Coles, 20. Ethan Roots, 21. Ben Curry, 22. Tom Willis, 23. Jack van Poortvliet, 24. Marcus Smith, 25. Ollie Sleightholme , 26. Freddie Stewart
Possibilities: 15. Joe Carpenter; 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Fraser Dingwall, 12. Max Ojomoh 11. Will Muir, 10. Fin Smith, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Trevor Davison, 4. Rusi Tuima, 5. Charlie Ewels, 6. Ted Hill, 7. Will Evans, 8. Zach Mercer
Replacements: 16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Tarek Haffar, 18. James Harper, 19. Ben Bamber, 21. Guy Pepper, 21. Alfie Barbeary 22. Raffi Quirke, 23. Max Malins, 24. Luke Northmore, 25. George Hendy, 26 Gabriel Ibitoye