The Red Roses in action again
The news of two tests against Canada on 23 and 30 September is welcome.
Then we start wondering again.
These are vital preparations for the Red Roses before the launch of the WXV. The RFU’s first dilemma was who to offer the games to. The Canadians are willing and welcome visitors to England; they rank fourth in the world, achieving great results against the odds.
When the two teams last met, at the World Cup, the Maple Leafs ran the Red Roses close, 26-19. Two years ago at the Stoop England reached their more normal total of 50+ (51-12).
They meet in the WXV on 20 October. How wise is it for either team to agree to two more encounters so close to that all-important one in Aotearoa?
A central problem is the lack of alternative opposition. We have had crunches against France coming out of our ears. None of the remaining European nations can be sure of testing England as they would wish, not even Wales, who accompany them into WXV1.
So Canada it is.
Next, we have the all too frequent missing link. The RFU finds it very hard publishing a statement without leaving a large hole in it.
The first match is assigned into Sandy Park, Exeter. The second, ‘somewhere in England’, as the BBC used to say in wartime. Why the indecision?
Why Sandy Park yet again? Of course everyone can agree the Red Roses get a wonderful welcome there, but where do they not? And why pick a ground that involves a longer journey for more people than any other ground recently chosen, bar Kingston Park Newcastle?
Then we have the recurrent problem that the RFU brought upon itself with its appointment of the New Zealander, John Mitchell, as the head coach. He will not be around, duty-bound to remain in Japan, looking after the Brave Blossoms’ forwards. In his place Louis Deacon will be in charge.
So he will make the final selections, no doubt based on the recently announced contracts.
Not for the first time I have to wonder why Deacon was not handed full responsibility straight away? You can offer all the counter-arguments you like: too young, too inexperienced, and so on. Against that, what’s the point of choosing someone who simply won’t be there? Or perhaps the Japanese Rugby Union will let him off the leash for 48 hours to fly in and out, twice. Or perhaps not.
When Mitchell finally arrives, how many changes will he find advisable? If he decides that Deacon was spot on, that makes the handover of power all the more mystifying.
Ah, I think I have the answer. Mitchell will require Sarah Bern to behave like a proper tight-head and stop playing as an auxiliary outside-centre. Of course.
