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The one issue Clive Woodard has with England's selection for Tonga

(Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Former World Cup-winning England head coach Clive Woodard has said that Eddie Jones’ selection for Tonga is faultless – with one exception.

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England are heavy favourites to beat Tonga in Twickenham this Saturday, having beaten the Pacific island nation 35 – 5 last time they met, at the Rugby World Cup pool stages in Japan two years ago.

Despite this, Jones has picked what looks like close to his choice fifteen for the game and it’s a selection that Woodward is enthusiastic about – but there’s an issue: the backrow.

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      “This, taking injuries and niggles into account, is England’s Gun XV and with one exception in the back row I can’t find fault with it,” Woodward writes in his Daily Mail column.

      Jones has once again gone for Tom Curry at No.8 – a selection the Australian has committed to over the last two seasons, believing the Sale Sharks forward will become a better seven for having played at No.8.

      Woodward doesn’t agree.

      “And the back row? Well, we have been here before. England have two exceptional youngish No 8s in Alex Dombrandt and Sam Simmonds and I can’t really see any reason not to give one of them an extended run, with the other on the bench.

      “They would be interchangeable in that respect.

      “It’s not that I think Tom Curry can’t make a very decent fist of it at No 8 but the transition was far from seamless when he played there in the 2020 Six Nations.

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      “He will have to learn his trade there while we have two in-form specialists twiddling their thumbs.

      “But why even do it? Is the extra lineout option of Courtney Lawes playing blindside flanker and the slightly heavier scrummaging power he offers so vital?

      “For starters, I would argue that Curry provides a third lineout option but do you really change the composition of a potentially devastatingly quick and ball-playing back row for that perceived marginal gain in the tight?

      “Tonga won’t provide any definitive answers. We will have to wait for the Australia and Boks games for that.”

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      ENGLAND VS TONGA: 15. Freddie Steward, 14. Adam Radwan, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Jonny May, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Youngs, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Jamie George, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. Jonny Hill, 6. Courtney Lawes, 7. Sam Underhill, 8. Tom Curry. REPLACEMENTS: 16. Jamie Blamire, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Charlie Ewels, 20. Alex Dombrandt, 21. Alex Mitchell, 22. Marcus Smith, 23. George Furbank.

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      PM 50 minutes ago
      Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

      Nick,

      I am a long suffering England fan, who has had to endure watching 4 years of dull rugby, poor selections and painful defeats. Steve Borthwick talks about GPS and picks squads by numbers and then we put in a poor performance on the pitch - it’s been a consistent trend.


      Something changed in the Six Nations and we totally changed our style (literally overnight) and played some really good footie, which finally felt like positive rugby for a change.


      Genge has regained his pore-Covid form and is looking back to his best and is head and shoulders above Porter.


      Chessum has had a good year and hasn’t played a poor International game this season.


      Tom Curry was outstanding in the 6 Nations but they have been playing him at 6, wheras he is better at 7 and is lethal at the breakdown.


      Tom Willis was brought into the starting team at 8 and has been one of the best England players over the last year, who should have been on this Lions tour at 8. Earl had his best game since 2020 last week - not sure 1 game warrants Lions selection over a poor combination side and he is certainly second choice for his club 7 country behind Willis.


      Pollock will be a good player but like all young emerging players, he is inconsistent and can go quiet in games, which is why Curry should be the starter at 7. He brings energy to games, which is why he is good from the bench but there is an argument to say he is the 5th best England openside (Curry x2, Underhill & Earl are currently better) but will improve over the next 5 years. We just need to stop the media building him up for a fall, let him play and develop and you will see a sensational Henry Pollock for the Lions in 4 years time.


      Lions will be too powerful over 80 mins, so doesn’t really matter who they pick. Just please don’t put too much hype on Pollock. His 20 mins of International rugby going into this tour were positive but the media caused a frenzy and no other player would be selected on this basis.


      Let’s enjoy the rugby and give Pollock the space and time he requires.

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