By Harry Hawkins
The centres are certainly interesting selections and the decision to drop Owen Farrell – to whom Lancaster owes much from earlier in the year – would surely not have been taken lightly. The choice to select Tuilagi and Joseph reflects a desire to play the game in certain way; Farrell is a competent distributor and defender but offers little running threat in comparison to the power of Tuilagi and the elusive running of Joseph.
However, it is the change at fly-half which will fundamentally alter England’s shape, hopefully – for England fans – for the better. Flood tends to stand much flatter in attack than Farrell and Lancaster will be hoping that, particularly in tandem with his Leicester club-mate Ben Youngs, Flood will create more try-scoring opportunities that England did last weekend.
His tactical kicking must also be more intelligent. Farrell cannot be entirely blamed for England’s diabolical kick-chase last weekend, but there was certainly a sense that either he or Youngs had to get England more field position than they had last Saturday, particularly in the third quarter. Flood is the most experienced player in the England touring party and will have been told to use all of that experience to manage England’s game more intelligently.
Defensively, this midfield looks to be made up of relatively solid tacklers but without the organisational skills of Brad Barritt, the danger is that either Tuilagi (out of his most familiar position and still young, of course) or Joseph (in his first Test start) may find themselves mis-aligned in defence. Again, it is Flood who must keep the backline steady and ensure gaps to not appear for the dangerous Springboks to exploit.
Elsewhere, David Strettle completes the back three with Foden and Ashton, while Alex Goode finds himself on the bench. Offensively, it is as fine a back three as England have at their disposal but they will only be given opportunities if this new midfield proves successful. Defensively, they must be assured under South Africa’s inevitable onslaught of high-balls and not give away easy territory.
Goode aside, no place in the Test-22 is found for any player involved in England’s midweek starting XV, despite eye-catching performances from Thomas Waldrom and Danny Care. The latter in particular can feel aggrieved, but perhaps being forced to play a full 80 minutes on Wednesday due to unfortunate injury-enforced circumstance counted against him.
Nonetheless, Lancaster’s selection for Saturday should be commended as a forward-thinking, brave one, despite the dropping of Owen Farrell to the bench. Farrell will be restored to starting jersey in time but he is still developing certain aspects of his game; for Saturday the selection of Flood, Tuilagi and Joseph offers potentially the greatest ball-carrying threat England have available and is therefore understandable. It falls to Flood, however, to turn this potential into reality.
Follow Harry on Twitter @Hawkins_Rugby
14 June 2012
