'I said Kyle would be a good rolling sub (in league). He can do ten minutes... but that would be him done'
George Ford has explained how conversations about rugby league and how its tactics could potentially be put to use in union have been a regular occurrence in recent weeks in Eddie Jones' England squad following the arrival of Jason Ryles from the NRL in Australia as a full-time skills coach.
The 13-a-side assistant coach had been a consultant for Jones since 2016 but he has now taken up a permanent role in the England set-up after signing off from NRL following Melbourne Storm's grand final success in October.
It has led to league terminologies such as edge attack and defence becoming commonplace in recent weeks, while there has also been chat about which England forwards might be best suited to playing league.
Ford was in the Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls academies as a teenager before changing tack and going on to become the England rugby union out-half, and he has plenty to say following the permanent arrival of Ryles into the set-up.
"He [Ryles] actually asked me last week when the game was on, the Super League grand final, who would do well in the game? I said Kyle (Sinckler) would be a good rolling sub. He can do ten minutes, start of the first half, start of the second, but that would be him done. Someone like Tom Curry, maybe Sam Underhill, they have got good enough engines to have a real proper crack at it."
Switching to the implementation of ideas regarding the use of edge attack and defence by England, Ford added: "I look at people like Tom Curry or Kyle, the way they go to the line with the ball in their hand and choose an inside option, outside option or maybe out the back as well.
"In terms of the improvement and where that has gone (in union) it's definitely gone more towards what they do in rugby league day in day out. I do think in terms of execution the gap is closing a little bit but again we have this conversation all the time with Jason, it's different. The pictures change a lot more in rugby union so it's not quite as set in stone as it would be in rugby league.
"It's different because there are more defenders, the ruck is different, the speed of the ball from the ruck and the number of pictures that change quite late is different from league. It is those questions and conversations we're having with Jason, him trying to understand how it is a little bit different from what he is used to in rugby league."
Asked to be more specific about edge attack, Ford continued: "You get your tight five forwards who are generally in the middle of the field and they generally carry off nine. What I mean by edge attack is once that phase is done you go the same way or go back down the short side, whatever you want to do.
"The attack then is probably off the first receiver and you probably would have a combination of outside backs and maybe one or two back-rowers against five, six defenders from the opposition and it's how we can exploit that situation more in terms of maybe trying to pick out a defender who we are trying to get to or split a defender, get runners either side.
"Ultimately it is to keep momentum or keep ruck speed of ball quick or make a line break and score some tries. That is what I mean by edge attack. It's more off 10 after the tight-five have done their bit off nine.
"He [Ryles] has been doing a lot of work with the back row and half-backs on edge attack and edge defence, potentially where they do a lot of work from a rugby league point of view. They probably have a lot more edge attacks or edge defences than we have in a (union) game, but it's how we can execute better, take some good things from what they do in rugby league to try and execute better on these edges... it's those questions and conversations we have with Jason, him trying to understand how it is a little bit different from what he is used to in rugby league."
Statistics have suggested ball-in-play time in Test rugby union comes in at no more than 39 minutes, far less than the 68 that reputedly exists in Super League in England - and Ford can't see that gap closing any time soon. "I don't think it will ever get to 68 minutes ball in play, that's unbelievable.
"I don't know the answer in terms of what the thing is to do. All we know is at the minute the game is probably in a situation where it's quite defensive and you use your kicking game quite a lot. Where you have got to be really, really good is flicking the switch that when that opportunity comes from an attack point of view that you are so quick in taking it and clinical. That is what we are trying to do at the minute, bridge that gap on how good we can be in that area."
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.
Go to comments