Eddie Jones says Elliot Daly can 'settle into' full-back role for Rugby World Cup 2019

Elliot Daly 
Elliot Daly during training on Thursday Credit: Getty Images

Eddie Jones says Elliot Daly’s selection at full-back to face the Barbarians marks a chance for the versatile 25 year-old to nail down the position ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Daly has flitted between wing and outside centre over his 18-cap career so far and wore the number 11 shirt for the British and Irish Lions in all three Tests against New Zealand last summer. However, Jones confirmed that the Wasp could “100 per cent” start at full-back during the tour of South Africa in June.

Speaking ahead of a fixture against the Barbarians, which he sees as an “another opportunity to grade the players”, Jones described Daly’s suitability to the new role. Long-range place-kicking, with the first two matches against the Springboks to be staged above sea level in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, was among the attributes highlighted.

“He’s got the gas, he’s seriously quick, he’s got a massive left foot and good sense for the game,” Jones said. “You look at Tests at altitude, they’re big kicking games. The ball flies another 10 or 15 metres.

Elliot Daly
Daly lands a penalty for the British and Irish Lions last summer Credit: Getty Images

“To have a guy back there that can kick the ball 60 metres means he’ll kick it 70 or 75 metres. I think he has 18 months to settle into a position and that’s how we’ve timed it. We feel like 15 could be his position.”

Jones, who has shifted Mike Brown to the left wing for this weekend, suggested Daly’s lack of recent game-time at full-back would not hamper him.

“I reckon he could join the England cricket side tomorrow and he’d keep wicket alright for them, maybe take the new ball, maybe score a few runs. He’s one of those naturally talented sportspeople, he’s got that ability to be flexible.

“We’ve seen it – he can play 11 or 13 without any worry and I’ve got no doubt he will adapt to 15. He’ll have his hairy moments, for sure, but he’ll adapt to it very well.”

Daly spent part of Friday’s training session at Pennyhill Park practising high balls with Neil Craig, the Rugby Football Union’s director of high performance and a former Australian Rules Football coach with Carlton. Last week also marked the first involvement of England’s new attack consultant Scott Wisemantel.

Daly, who arrived in camp on Wednesday, explained that Wisemantel had added impressive energy while aiming to “refine the running lines” of the squad. Although admitting that his last start at full-back came for England against the Barbarians way back in 2014, Daly did not appear daunted.

Elliot Daly
Elliot Daly in action against Saracens in the Premiership semi-final last Saturday Credit: PA

“I would like to play outside centre in the Premiership and back three in international rugby,” he said. “I don’t feel you get your hands on the ball that much on the wing in the Premiership but you see it more at international level. In that regard, it works that I play in all three positions like that. 

“I have a licence to roam [on Sunday] and Eddie has always said to go out there and play as a centre on the wing, trying to get your hands on the ball and make things happen. That is what I try and do every time I go out on to the pitch. I am very excited at the prospect. I can’t wait.”

Danny Cipriani is among the replacements and, although Jones had named him as a full-back when the Gloucester-bound playmaker joined up with England last week, the Australian was more ambiguous over his utility role against the Barbarians: "He’s in the 23 and he’s going to get an opportunity at 10, 12 or 15."

Jonesalso  confirmed that official replacements for the injured duo of Cameron Redpath and Jack Willis would added to England’s touring party after this afternoon’s [Sunday’s] game. With that in mind, Gloucester centre Henry Trinder is an intriguing backline inclusion against Pat Lam’s star-studded invitational outfit.

“I really like his attitude,” Jones added of Trinder. “I remember when he was first at Sarries. He was one of your headline boys, wasn’t he? He was going to be the next golden thing. He’s got a good skill-set and a great attitude, so for me it’s satisfying to see him at a higher level.”

As England attempt to move on from their sobering Six Nations, youngsters Zach Mercer and Tom Curry are deployed alongside Chris Robshaw in the back row. In the wake of a tournament that saw Jones’ side were ravaged at the breakdown, one facet of the game is under particularly intense scrutiny. Jones did note that Newcastle Falcon Mark Wilson would be considered as an openside flanker, but singled out Curry as an important figure.

“Well, we finished the Six Nations as the number one scrummaging team and the number one lineout team and you saw where we finished. Normally, that dominance in set-piece would mean you finish in the top two or three at least, but the game has evolved at the moment so that the most important contest area is the breakdown.

Tom Curry
Tom Curry starts at openside flanker against the Barbarians Credit: Getty Images

“What’s happened at the scrum, when the ball gets to the number eight? What are you told to do? Use it, straightaway. So, your ability to have a dominant scrum and convert that to points through the scrum is more difficult. Therefore your play off the scrum has to be better – the same with lineout mauls. Now you have a lineout maul and you have a bloke who has been hanging on like a barnacle and then becomes a defender.

“The way a maul is being refereed now is completely different. Your ability to generate a result out of that maul has been compromised, so you have to be smarter about that. All of that has reinforced the breakdown as a crucial area.

“There was almost a 360-degree change in where the penalties went at the breakdown, from giving penalties to the attacking team to giving penalties to the defensive team. The defending teams were awarded much more in the Six Nations at the breakdown and we weren’t great in that area.

“What does it come down to? It comes down to mind-set, it comes down to personnel and Tom Curry is an out-and-out seven. So that improves our personnel in that area and we are working on the mind-set.”

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