England must avert World Cup crisis with win over Australia
Owen Farrell's fall from grace is the most obvious result of English rugby's awful autumn
A month ago the England rugby squad was feeling pretty pleased with itself. Coach Stuart Lancaster had just been rewarded for two years of steady improvement with a new contract that guaranteed his position until 2020, RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie explaining that "it's the right leap of faith... a commitment to sustainable success".
Lancaster, for his part, had lost only 11 of his 30 matches since taking over from Martin Johnson at the start of 2012 and was impressively bullish when he signed the deal. "We believe that England Rugby is moving in the right direction, we have the right coaching and management team to take us forward and are excited about the challenge ahead," he told reporters.
The last few weeks have proved Lancaster was premature in his confident assertions. England have stopped moving in the right direction; in fact, they've gone backwards this month, losing to New Zealand and South Africa and labouring to a uninspiring 28-9 win over Samoa.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Now England's oldest overseas foes lies in wait – and how Australia would love to inflict a third defeat this autumn on their ancient rival.
Defeat for England doesn't bear thinking about, not with the World Cup a little over nine months away, but if the Wallabies do win at Twickenham tomorrow Lancaster's squad will officially be in crisis and the RFU might start to wonder if they also weren't a little premature in offering the 45-year-old former schoolteacher a six-year deal.
Australia are the weakest of the three southern hemisphere giants and tomorrow's encounter is the last Test of a long, long year for the Wallabies. The players are tired and dreaming of cold beers on the beach back home, but they'll be relishing the challenge of embarrassing England. They also have the armoury to do it, as they showed in defeating Wales and running both France and Ireland perilously close.
In Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Matt Toomua they have gifted three footballers far superior to anything England can offer. The Wallabies also have flanker Michael Hooper, a world-class ball-winner at the breakdown, and if he secures a stream of possession for his backline it could be a long afternoon for the England threequarters. "Hooper needs special attention," admitted England forwards' coach Graham Rowntree. "He's pretty central to everything Australia do offensively - and at the breakdown as well."
England have made three changes to the side that defeated Samoa, bringing in Tom Wood for James Haskell in the back-row, replacing hooker Rob Webber with Dylan Hartley and, most significantly, axing Owen Farrell for Billy Twelvetrees in midfield.
Farrell has had a miserable month. He began November as England's first-choice fly-half, but two slack performances prompted Lancaster to shift him inside to centre. That helped neither Farrell, nor the man who replaced him at ten, George Ford, so the former Golden Boy of English rugby has been dropped to the bench. It's some fall from grace for Farrell, who two years ago was shortlisted for the world Player of the Year award.
Farrell is still only 23 so he has time on his side, and so has Lancaster with his six year contract. But this England team does not. The World Cup clock is ticking and defeat against Australia will set the alarm bell ringing.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures Firing shells, burning ballots, and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Damian Barr shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The writer and broadcaster picks works by Alice Walker, Elif Shafak and others
By The Week UK Published
-
The Great Mughals: a 'treasure trove' of an exhibition
The Week Recommends The V&A's new show is 'spell-binding'
By The Week UK Published
-
Rejuvenated England show spirit, unity and ‘never-say-die courage’
feature Eddie Jones’s new-look side complete autumn Test clean sweep by toppling South Africa
By The Week Staff Published
-
Rugby union lawsuits: impact could be ‘astronomical’ for governing bodies
Speed Read RPA says training protocols ‘need addressing very quickly’ over head injuries
By Mike Starling Published
-
Premier League 2020-21 predictions and odds: champions, top four, relegation
The Week Recommends A look at what the football media has to say ahead of the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Bayern Munich: Alphonso Davies expects a ‘goalfest’
The Week Recommends Key talking points ahead of the Champions League final
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s ‘World Cup’: Pep Guardiola’s team bid for Champions League glory
The Week Recommends Sky Blues prepare for a potential three knockout games in eight days in Portugal
By Mike Starling Published
-
On the prowl for No.16: Tiger Woods is geared up for PGA Championship challenge
The Week Recommends First major of the year will be held behind closed doors at TPC Harding Park
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Eddie Jones to lead England at 2023 Rugby World Cup and Barcelona want Neymar-Griezmann deal
Speed Read Ten things from the world of sport on Thursday 2 April
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Joe Marler gets ten-week ban for testicle grab and Wales vs. Scotland is off
Daily Briefing Ten things from the world of sport on Friday 13 March
By The Week Staff Published