Eddie Jones considering dropping lock after humiliation by Rieko Ioane
Rieko Ioane went to show against England on Saturday that perfect technique always wins, regardless of how big you are.
Now the All Blacks centre is not exactly a small player, but he still was giving away over 10kg to England lock Jonny Hill at Twickenham. However, the Sale Sharks second row was unceremoniously picked up and dumped backwards by Ioane just metres away from the All Blacks’ line in the first half on Saturday.
Hill’s place in the starting XV is now in serious jeopardy, particularly with the Boks arriving in London this Saturday. Eddie Jones cannot afford to have his second rows manhandled like that too often.
While this probably is not a justification to drop a player to the bench, Hill could indeed be demoted this week. That, however, is down to the cameo played by David Ribbans in the second half against the All Blacks. The Northampton Saints lock was a catalyst in England’s comeback to draw, as he carried hard and produced an offload in the build up to Freddie Steward’s try that even Sonny Bill Williams would gloat about.
Take a look at the hit:
Eddie Jones is set to name his matchday squad tomorrow. Here is his 26-man squad:
FORWARDS
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 40 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 42 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 71 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 18 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 61 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 55 caps)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 24 caps)
Hugh Tizard (Saracens, uncapped)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 67 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 73 caps)
BACKS
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 100 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 71 caps)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 44 caps)
Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 51 caps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 16 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 16 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 49 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 6 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 120 caps)
