"Baxter is wrong" - Austin Healey picks his choice to replace Eddie Jones - Ruck

“Baxter is wrong” – Austin Healey picks his choice to replace Eddie Jones

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.”

EDITORS PICKS:

Rassie Erasmus leaves Farrell and Youngs out of his England XV

#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:

  • 13. Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
  • 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

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