Mike Friday: England have no midfield X-factor without Kyle Eastmond
Friday says he is struggling to see where the midfield X-factor is coming from in the event of the Red Rose pack failing to fire and believes the twinkle-toed former Rugby League man is not the only player opposing teams will be relieved to see axed.
Assessing England’s back-line options, a baffled Friday told The Rugby Paper: “They’ve taken out X-factor men like Marland Yarde and Semesa Rokoduguni but it’s Kyle Eastmond’s omission that really surprises me.
“I like Henry Slade and, as a utility, he ticks the boxes as cover for 10, 12, 13 and 15, I get that. But Eastmond to me was the only genuine X-factor individual who can do something different and break up a game, whether that’s as a starter or an impact player.
“With Eastmond’s omission they’ve basically laid their cards out on the table. What they are effectively saying is we’re going to have the best pack in the world, we’re going to play very pragmatic, conservative rugby and that’s how we’ll win it.
“But what are we going to do if our pack, who we think is the best, can’t win us a game? I’ve got no idea because you’ve taken the midfield X-factor away.”
Citing evidence provided by New Zealand and Australia, Friday, above, added: “You need to be able to play all ways. Australia’s pack is getting better and all they need is parity with England or some ball and they’ve got the ability in their back-line to blow us away.
“They’re not all big blokes – Matt Giteau’s only 87kg – so it’s rubbish to talk about Eastmond and his supposedly bad defence. Australia have X-factor on the park and on the bench which means they can play in different ways, and New Zealand are the same.
“But where’s our Plan B or C? That’s what frustrates me. Stuart Lancaster talks about having versatility in his 31-man squad, but where’s the X-factor at 12?
“The opposition would have been thinking, ‘how do you mark Eastmond?’ Now they don’t have to worry because Brad Barritt, Sam Burgess, Billy Twelvetrees or Luther Burrell are all basically ‘up and down’ players.
“Are we going to play with any ambition? No. Is that going to win us a World Cup? I don’t think so. Unless our pack can deal with the physicality of South Africa or the guile and ball-playing skills of the New Zealanders and Australians, we’ll come unstuck.”
Friday has joined the chorus of doubters over Burgess’s midfield selection, adding: “Sam’s a great player and you can’t fault his character, ambition, desire or that he’s a winner, but is he an international player? He still hasn’t learned the game!
“On potential he is, but on current form he hasn’t done enough to be in that squad and I’d have certainly had Kyle ahead of him.
“You always hear about what Kyle can’t do, but what about what he can do? England have missed a trick, big time, but I guess there’s still time to put it right.”
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