In the week that saw the ousting of one man from high office in London, some 10,000 miles away another under-fire leader is battling to prove that he can reproduce the successes of 2019. England begin in Brisbane with just two wins in 2022 and 1-0 down to Australia – and Eddie Jones, true to tinkering form, has conducted a reshuffle of his own.
The latest backline roll of the dice from Jones is again tough to square with his desire for greater cohesion. In come three virtual newbies: two debutants in Guy Porter and Tommy Freeman, and Jack Van Poortvliet, promoted from the bench having been afforded only a fleeting, though try-scoring, glimpse of international rugby a week ago.
