England’s bold back three: Will they be assets or liabilities as the team prepare to take on the Wallabies

Admittedly the hard-carrying inside centre is the preferred choice as an international No.12. The All Blacks suffered without a strong carrier at No.12 last season. That’s why the most interesting selection for their first Test against Ireland in Auckland tomorrow (Saturday) is their powerful inside centre, Quinn Tupaea. The world champions, South Africa, have the uncomplicated excellence of Damien de Allende operating off the shoulder of their fly half, while - a more direct cause of concern for England - Samu Kerevi has the alchemical gift to transform the Wallaby back line from shapeless shambles to cutting-edge diamonds.

Tuilagi, on all form this decade, is a poor man’s version of these 12s. And Owen Farrell simply isn’t in the slightest bit similar. He’s physical but he lacks the brute running power. He is a fly half fitting into another position. It leaves England with the perennial problem, one that has caused such concern in the past few years: who provides the momentum?

If a returning Billy Vunipola repeats the performance witnessed against Leicester Tigers in the Gallagher Premiership final, there is part of the answer, but only part. He cannot carry the burden of ball-carrying on his own. Eddie Jones, the England head coach, has long said that Tuilagi is not the only option. Joe Cokanasiga - plagued by injuries - is another.

Ever since his return to the blue, black and white of Bath, he has been scoring tries and carrying to good effect. He hasn’t been consistent and he hasn’t played enough rugby to be the name on the lips of many watchers but this is a tour where potential development can be, at the very least, bracketed with results.

He bounced back to Bath colours with a flurry of tries. More interesting, the booming running lines from the blindside wing and the soft hands of his early days were there for all to see - except for the opposing midfield, who found him hard to mark with well-timed runs behind the front line of decoys.

Is he as sharp as he was when running all over the Wallabies at Twickenham in 2018? Probably not. The 17.5-stone-plus Fijian-born back was breathtaking that day. He scored a try where he ran over the last line of defence. It was a statement.

This was the potent Pacific Island power for which Jones has always yearned. Cokanasiga has the array of running and handling skills to play No.12 himself, but his capacity to come late on to those delayed pop passes of Marcus Smith and the well-weighted distributary skills of Farrell mark him as a left wing (No 11) able to do the job of the inside centre (12).

Jones has the option of using him as first receiver from first phase, in particular the lineout. Had Jonny May not been hit by Covid, the Bath wing might not have started, but the way Jones has slyly reiterated the various ways to claim the front foot suggests he was inked in for Perth before May’s misfortune.

Jack Nowell is a different type of player: more industrious but far less destructive than Cokanasiga. Expect both of them to pop up next to Danny Care. While the Smith-Farrell axis is responsible for the core of the playmaking, both wings - in their different ways - can buy split seconds for the dual fly halves by breaking down defensive structures.

The “two tens” combination clicked against Australia before the experiment ended with Farrell’s injury. The Saracens fly half played the straight guy, running the direct, fixing angle while the Harlequin glided into the wider metre of space and pop-passed Freddie Steward into the hole. The Wallabies will be wary about the 6ft 5in full back. Those with longer memories will shudder at the carnage Cokanasiga can create. w

The back three are all accomplished in the air, with the colossal left wing and full back both tryscoring threats from the floated cross-field kick. Smith has been off target of late and needs to tighten his basics. Farrell, in contrast, has been accurate but can overdo the kicking option.

If Australia kick on to the back three, Cokanasiga is a big man who can be caught on the turn. Quade Cooper will be keeping an eye out for space behind the England left wing with the habit of switching off.

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Analysis of the Premiership final will remind Dave Rennie’s Australia team what a threat Steward is on an orthodox charge into the line. Like Cokanasiga, his power can be employed to late and deadly effect.

But there were moments in that final when he appeared clumsy. Kicks to the corner can cause him trouble. Along with Cokanasiga he is a potential matchwinner for England. Against Cooper, the pair could cost England. Enter Henry Arundell as back-three cover. It’s a bold back-three selection on the part of Jones.

-The Times

Originally published as England’s bold back three: Will they be assets or liabilities as the team prepare to take on the Wallabies