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Cockerill's England squad update zeroes in on hooker situation
By Liam Heagney
England assistant Richard Cockerill has given his assessment of how Eddie Jones’ squad have fared in the early part of their Autumn Nations Series preparations in Jersey, including the intriguing battle for selection at hooker. With the squad midway through their five-day camp on the Channel Island, the forwards coach was wheeled out to give an update via a Zoom media conference.
Luke Cowan-Dickie, who is expected to be the first-choice hooker with Jamie George unavailable through injury, arrived into camp carrying a knock to his knee sustained in last Saturday’s Exeter defeat by Saracens.
With 37 England caps and three more for the 2021 British and Irish Lions, the 29-year-old Cowan-Dickie has way more experience than his in-camp rivals for the No2 jersey, the 26-year twice-capped Jack Singleton from Gloucester and the uncapped 29-year-old George McGuigan from Newcastle.
This deficit in experience could be a worry for the England pack if they had to go into their series versus Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa without Cowan-Dickie available for selection, but Cockerill reported on Wednesday that the Chiefs front-rower is on the mend.
“Luke took part in some units this morning so as far as I am aware it [the injury] is settling well and there is every chance that he will train fully next week,” he said.
Switching to his impression of Singleton and McGuigan in the England set-up, Cockerill added: “I have been very impressed with both of them. Both play in forward packs that are very good at set-piece both at scrum and lineout. They fit that mould for us very, very well. They have been in and around the squad previously and they are working very hard to take the opportunity if the opportunity comes.
“We have got some quality hookers in and around the England squad. Obviously, there are some injury concerns with the guys that have been the favoured ones previously but as you can imagine they [Singleton/McGuigan] are working very hard so that if the opportunity arises they are ready to take it.”
Cockerill didn’t have an update on how Courtney Lawes and Owen Farrell, the squad’s leading candidates to skipper England in November, are faring with their recoveries from concussions at their respective homes in Northampton and London.
“They are still going through the normal protocols and we don’t have any more news on that. They are just going through their normal process and if they are right they will come into the squad, and if they are not we will do everything we can to make sure they are fully recovered before they come back in.”
England arrived in Jersey on Monday having made a number of alterations to the squad originally named on October 17 by Jones. Those changes included the selection of uncapped Sale winger Tom Roebuck and Cockerill explained the initial few days in camp were about getting everyone up to speed as quickly as possible.
“The first couple of days is just about integrating into the squad,” he said. “We have had some activities and some team building and getting to know each other and getting that togetherness for the squad. Everybody has settled in well. Excited to be looking forward to the Autumn Nations Series. Great location, Jersey. Lots of guys are experiencing it for the first time as well, so all good."
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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