The England team Eddie Jones has picked to face Australia tomorrow is one with a point to prove, both individually and collectively.
Let’s be honest, the results haven’t been good enough over the past 12 months and the performances have been patchy. England had a losing record in the Six Nations and the less said about the Barbarians game the other week the better.
This is a proper Test series, though, and it gives this team the chance to lay down a marker. Ireland and France have improved significantly since the last World Cup and England haven’t, so it is about time they announce their arrival with a statement victory.
Eddie’s selections often leave you scratching your head, but on this occasion I think he has probably picked the team most of the rugby-loving public would have. It’s full of experience, but with form players, too.
That is certainly the case with Billy Vunipola, who looks back to his best and like a player with a point to prove. Billy wears his heart on his sleeve and it would have hurt him being out of the picture.
Eddie has done what all good coaches do by throwing down the gauntlet to Billy and urging him to prove he has the appetite and desire to play at Test level again.
Billy has gone away and got himself super fit after being through an awful lot on and off the field since the World Cup. He has had to cope with arm and knee injuries, plus Saracens getting relegated.
But there’s no doubt he is back to his best and, as you get older in your career, if you can maintain your fitness you can become an even better player than you were in the early days. You can see that with Billy as he has stepped up and become a leader at Saracens.
Everyone talks about who should play No8 for England, but I think we all know that when Billy is at his best then he is right at the front of that conversation. It has taken him, and his brother Mako, a while to rebuild their careers after being unceremoniously dumped by Eddie, but they have got a great opportunity now.
Joe Cokanasiga is another player in that category. He didn’t really get a chance at the last World Cup and, to be honest, his club, Bath, have had a poor season — but hopefully he can find some form, because we all know what he’s capable of.
Eddie has spoken about wanting to add power to the team and you can clearly see this side has that, even if there’s a slight worry about a lack of genuine pace out wide.
It’s great to see Courtney Lawes as England captain, too. That’s not a slight on Owen Farrell whatsoever, because I think he is clearly England’s leader, captain and talisman anyway in all but name.
I almost think you gain an extra captain when you don’t officially give Farrell that role.
