Lions await as Jonathan Joseph adds leadership to skill set

Jonathan Joseph’s emergence as a forceful leader in attack and defence will thrust him into pole position for the No.13 jersey on next summer’s British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, according to Bath assistant coach Toby Booth.
Having played a key part in Bath’s impressive Premiership start, twinkle-toed Joseph looks certain to retain his starting role for England when the autumn campaign kicks off.
Booth reckons Joseph, 25, is Lions material, telling The Rugby Paper: “JJ’s one of a number of Bath players you’d expect to see putting their hands up for that Lions tour and, as a coach, you want all your players to fulfil their potential.
“JJ’s getting in between defenders and enjoying the attacking part of our game, but he’s also showing much greater enthusiasm for leadership and he’s maturing through his involvement with England and Eddie Jones‘ guidance.
“He’s really putting his hand up in that leadership role for us now and it’s not just what you see on the field, where’s he’s great in attack and defensively very sound as an organiser, it’s the extra stuff he’s taking on behind the scenes.
“A lot of people have individual aspirations to get on that Lions tour next summer, but equally JJ understands that there’s a means to an end and it’s Bath first in order to put himself in the best position to advance his career.
“Our job is to prepare guys well and make sure they perform – after that talent decides the outcome and JJ’s got mountains of that.”
Having shipped just nine tries in their opening six games, Bath boast the second meanest defence in the Premiership on points conceded.
Booth, who concedes he doubted his own job security in the wake of head coach Mike Ford’s dismissal in May, explained: “We’re developing resilience now and have reminded ourselves that, actually, we’re still a good team.
“Defence is a great example of where you are from a mindset point of view and we’ve had to defend for long periods against Worcester, Leicester, Gloucester and Sale, having had minimal first-half possession and made 70-plus tackles.
“That’s a great marker of where you are culturally and attitudinally and shows we’ve got a team that fights for each other and are willing to pay the price to win.”
Of the summer upheaval, Booth admits: “You hear about changes and it brings uncertainty for everyone – that’s an obvious reaction.
“Professional sport can be pretty cruel and ruthless, but the club told me that I still was part of their plans so you move on pretty quickly.
“You’ve got to be leaders in adversity, to step up and make decisions on the information you’re given at the time, so Darren Edwards and I took the initiative during the summer to start rebuilding after what had been a poor season.”
With new coaches Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson making a favourable impression, Booth added: “They’re good people and we’re aligned in our belief of how the game should be played – staff and players have responded to that.”
NEALE HARVEY