Swanky new facilities means training will not be disrupted
Friday 31 October 2014 17:56, UK
England will be shorn of some key players throughout the Autumn Internationals, but Sky Sports reporter Phil Edwards says they SHOULD have enough quality to cope...
Whichever way you approach it, the month of November, from the point of view of England and their many supporters, is going to be absolutely fascinating.
Stuart Lancaster’s side get their final crack at the southern hemisphere superpowers before the World Cup, and face an evening kick-off, under a new set of floodlights reckoned to be the latest word in sporting illumination, against Samoa.
So, what do you think would be a satisfactory outcome for the autumn series?
I would suggest that England need to win at least three of their four matches as a minimum requirement at this stage of a World Cup cycle. That means, with home advantage, beating at least one of the top two sides in the world.
This would not be easy at the best of times, and if we’re honest, the best of times don’t seem to occur with quite the frequency that England would like.
After all, they are currently without their first and second choice loose-head props (Alex Corbisiero and Mako Vunipola), and their first choice tight-head prop (Dan Cole). They will also be without the formidable services of Manu Tuilagi in midfield.
Injuries are a fact of life, but they also help to clarify a country’s strength-in-depth. A nation like England, with an unrivalled player base and plenty of financial clout, ought to be less affected by orthopaedic calamities than others. But we shall see.
Then there are other factors; Lancaster still appears not to know his best candidate to play alongside Tuilagi once the Leicester wrecking-ball is back from the treatment table. He also has to decide who to play out wide. Both the number 11 and number 14 jerseys are still up for grabs less than a year out from the next global jamboree.
It looks as though the selectors will give Semesa Rokoduguni a chance on the right against New Zealand, but it feels as though it’s getting a bit late in the day to be blooding newcomers when the big guns from the SANZAR nations appear to be much more settled in terms of selection.
On the positive side, England have new facilities at their training base which ought to leave them wanting for nothing. A new £1.2 million Desso pitch has been installed at their Pennyhill Park Hotel.
With the same dimensions as the surface at Twickenham, it replaces the old mud-heap that used to become waterlogged and un-playable after about five minutes’ worth of modest drizzle. I’ve lost count of the number of times England were forced to relocate to other facilities, by coach, just to be able to train. Those days appear to be over.
There is also a new training and conditioning complex a short drop-kick away from the pitch. I would love to tell you what’s inside this imposing building, but the RFU bods want to keep it all under wraps for a bit longer. It’s all about mind-games and keeping the opposition guessing.
In glass-half-full (cheerful) mode you will be looking forward to a repeat of England’s stunning victory over the All Blacks in 2012, followed by a win against the Springboks.
So, what can we expect from England once the fun and games begin?
If you’re in glass-half-empty (misery-guts) mode you might point out that, having lost their last three Test matches, they are in danger of having that losing streak extended by both New Zealand and South Africa.
Lancaster will then have to play his A-team against Samoa under the lights to try to stop the rot. By which time the guys will be in bits when the Aussies hit town towards the end of the month.
In glass-half-full (cheerful) mode you will be looking forward to a repeat of England’s stunning victory over the All Blacks in 2012, followed by a win against the Springboks, the only side Stuart Lancaster has yet to get the better of.
That would then allow room for experimentation against Samoa. George Ford at 10 and Owen Farrell at 12 perhaps? Then it would be all about a clean-sweep against the Wallabies and dreams of World Cup glory.
Whatever the state of your glass, I would urge you to charge it and drink to a wonderful month of international rugby. Cheers!
