"Baxter is wrong" - Austin Healey picks his choice to replace Eddie Jones
Rugby NewsThursday, 31 March 2022 at 17:47
Former international Austin Healey believes that Rob Baxter is the wrong man for the England job.
"I think Baxter could definitely do the job. But, if the RFU is looking for a director of rugby, then perhaps Saracens' Mark McCall would be the better option" wrote Healey.
"If you are looking for someone to put a coaching team together, then McCall has a better and longer track record of doing that.
"You either want a director of rugby who with few resources gets the best out of a side - like Steve Diamond or, for a better example, Warren Gatland from his time with Wales - or someone who is used to having lots of resources like McCall.
"Back to Baxter, I am not sure the way Exeter are currently playing would work at Test level either. In internationals you do not take those risks in your own half with maintaining possession for long periods of time, because the intensity is higher. Your fitness levels would need to be off the charts if you wanted to play that way.
"You are better off playing with that intensity, making a big impact over three to four phases, in the opposition's half. I don't think Exeter's attacking game at present would work with England. They are too lateral across the backline."
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#BACK-THREE:
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
- 14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
- 11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish)
Adam Radwan of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#CENTRES:
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- 12. Luke Northmore (Harlequins)
Joe Marchant of England is tackled in the air by Siya Kolisi, Captain of South Africa during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#HALFBACKS:
- 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
- 9. Danny Care (England)
Danny Care of England arriving before the six Nations Championship match, between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, London , UK, on the 17th March 2017. (Photo:Dean Lancaster/PPAUK)
#FRONT-ROW:
- 1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
- 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
- 3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Leicester Tigers player Ellis Genge during the Gallagher Premiership rugby game between Leicester Tigers and Harlequins at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Dec 5th - PHOTO: Steve Bond/PPAUK
#SECOND-ROW:
- 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
- 5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Final whistle celebrations for Maro Itoje of England Rugby after the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#BACK-ROW:
- 6. Alfie Barbeary (Wasps)
- 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
- 8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Curry of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
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