CHALLENGE OF ULSTER AWAY THIS WEEKEND
“It’s a crunch match. The result of the game is probably going to determine qualification. I don’t think it gets much tougher. They might use their recent results as fuel to light the fire. They have lost in the last throes of the game in the last three weeks. They are back at the Kingspan. We probably played some of our best rugby when we last played them. So we understand giving them the same respect that we would give ourselves that they will be royally up for it this weekend.
“I think they deserved to win at La Rochelle last weekend honestly watching the game. I think everyone thought they deserved it and they probably did as well. Getting so close as they have done in recent weeks I guess the rhetoric is that your luck is going to turn at some point. It’s our job to make sure they don’t have the luck of the Irish this weekend.”
JOY AT BEN CURRY’S ENGLAND SELECTION
“We had a round of applause for him yesterday as there was for everyone. We celebrate it in this place because a win for them is a win for us all in that respect. The four players being named in the squad gives us a really good boost in training that we needed just before the start of the team meeting yesterday. It is well-deserved as we have been speaking about for weeks and he has been asked about it after every game because of his performances so dead-chuffed for him.”
HOW HAS BEN DEALT WITH ONLY HAVING 1 CAP WHILST TOM HAS NEARLY 50?
“In his stride really. We have been developing his leadership skills for years and part of it is how you respond to events whether they be positive or negative. That’s been our focus. It’s just another opportunity for him to be able to control his own responses after a really brilliant turn of events for him. As you know with the Curry’s they have an ability to have a singular focus which borders on obsessive and compulsive. We have got a job to do this weekend and I have had to task him with that job as well as the other internationals to play this weekend and not think about next week as they go into camp. That was something we talked about in our first meeting of the week at 10am on Monday morning. With that he has taken that on board being our captain to lead by example in that manner. The true test will be on Saturday evening how he has taken it on.
“It doesn’t materialise through his actions or what he says whilst Tom is away. It does affect him because he doesn’t have his best mate around or his twin brother to lean on. That’s the biggest effect I have seen. He has deep-dived into process and how he can become a better player and leader here and that’s what you have to do from my experience anyway when you’re not getting what you want or what you think you deserve is just get better. He has done that really well. There’s been no kicking stones or sulking, certainly no bitterness because it’s his twin brother. You have never seen a happier man upon selection, you couldn’t take the smile off his face. Much deserved, good to see. I would back him to start at 7 for England. I have been backing him after every game. People have been asking for me should he be in consideration? Yes. Why has he not been picked? Don’t know. What can he do differently? Change his name. It has baffled me but at that level it comes down to subjectivity and who fits best for the game-plan.”
COMMUNICATION WITH ENGLAND
“They have all been spoken to. The communication has been really clear as to where they sit in not just the pecking order but his Steve Borthwick’s tracking of them over the next few games. Obviously Raffi and George are two people who are being tracked.”
HOW RAFFI QUIRKE HAS DEALTH WITH NOT BEING SELECTED BY ENGLAND
“Steve has had a conversation with Raffi. I haven’t spoken to Steve as of yet. Raffi has only played 30 minutes and by his own admission not to his own standard. I think he needs to prove to himself that he is back on form. I don’t think he would be too confident going back into England camp as he is right now. That’s just from my experience and conversations with Raffi. He is being watched and I am sure he will find form over the next couple of games and then it is down to Steve.
“I had a conversation with Raffi first thing Monday morning. He was the first person that I caught about 8.30am just to see how he was getting on and some of the reflections from the game. By that time he had already sat down with George and been through his game which I think is brilliant. He is more level-headed and mature in his reaction to the conversation with Steve about his non-selection for the training camp and in his reflections on his performance than I have ever seen him. Players get stretched and stressed and when they have time off they grow from my understanding. Coming back into it they are generally better for it, the good players are anyway. He is better for the time off. I feel like he has got a wider perspective for the bigger picture as opposed to wanting it all now philosophy. Raffi is not about that, I have been really impressed with him.”
GEORGE FORD’S RETURN TO PLAY
“It’s an outside chance he will be fit for the Bath game. He will have to get through a good week to get all his metrics and loading to a place where we think he is going to be robust enough. The physios and medical team have been tracking him for six months. If it was down to me and if it was down to George he would be playing this weekend but we have to put faith in the expertise of the guys who know what they are talking about.”
MIKE FORSHAW’S DEPARTURE
“The process for Wales going for him started Monday last week. These things happen quickly. Those conversations between our CEO Sid Sutton and Wales’ CEO all happened on Monday. By Tuesday lunchtime it was agreed in principle so 24 hours.
“There weren’t any discussions about Mike coming back after the Six Nations and this is for what Mike wanted with the opportunity and what Wales wanted which was full-time, through a World Cup and a couple of years after. He’s getting elderly Mike even though you wouldn’t know it because of his routine he manages to stave off the ravages of old age! This would probably be his last opportunity for a World Cup cycle as he would have to wait another four years. I don’t know whether he would have it in him. It’s a massive loss as a mate and a coach. It’s an opportunity for him that he couldn’t look past and he had to take it.
“I don’t think there is any amount of money which would quantify the worth of Mike Forshaw but the big boys sorted out the bunts.
“My hope and my belief is that it is best done by recruiting from within. That’s my experience that I have had, particularly in an area which isn’t broken with decent principles and the players drive the standards and systems that we have here. To get somebody else in could jeopardise all of those things that have been put in place over the last ten years with Mike. So I think it’s best that we recruit, train and develop from within. If things are going well then keep it in house. That’s my philosophy generally as you can see with the players as well as the coaches, recruit from within.”
OTHER NEWS
Difficulty of challenge in Europe with salary cap in Premiership compared to Top 14 and URC- more difficult this season with reduction in salary cap
Felt if we had kept 15 men on field, both starting props hadn’t gone off in first minute, Raffi been on form, George and Tom fit then it would have been a different story, first 20 minutes we were on top and dominant when it was 15 vs 15
If there is government help like in France or an increase in multiple revenue streams then salary cap can go up
Nothing like exposing young players to partisan crowds, players learn a huge amount from these experiences
Bevan Rodd- leaning into his x-factor qualities, he is always looking to improve, very steely character, hasn’t been disillusioned by not playing for England since his 2 caps in November 2021 despite being selected in all the squads, he has got on with things, had an honest conversation post-Harlequins game, a reflective young player who doesn’t just jump when asked, he challenges Alex and asks why which Alex really likes
Manu Tuilagi- most robust he has been this season, communication with England has continued from one era to the next, continuation of management of Manu despite change in coaching staff, super chilled making cups of coffee (flat whites) for an hour and a half this afternoon
INJURY UPDATE
George Ford- in units session today and looking sharp, hasn’t done a full week of training yet, about robustness now, could be fit for Bath next week
Tom Curry- should be fit for Wales game (3rd game for England in Six Nations), will have a discussion with Steve Borthwick about perhaps Tom having game time with Sale before re-joining England squad, cited Northampton game in between Italy and Wales game as an opportunity for Tom to get some game time
Tom Roebuck- available for selection this weekend
Coenie Oosthuizen- nearly back, back up for selection next week
Simon McIntyre- took the impact on the eye but he felt fine, into concussion protocol like Nick Schonert, should be ok to play next week
Nick Schonert- cut an artery in his skull, had to get stitches, saw the day after, in concussion protocol, not available this weekend, could be available for Bath
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