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Jonathan Joseph said it took him a while to appreciate the levels of commitment required as a player
Jonathan Joseph admitted it took him a while to appreciate the levels of commitment required to be a top international. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images
Jonathan Joseph admitted it took him a while to appreciate the levels of commitment required to be a top international. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

Mike Ford: Jonathan Joseph has pace and durability for England centrepiece

This article is more than 9 years old
Bath’s head coach believes JJ could provide the perfect combination with club-mate Eastmond against New Zealand
Manu Tuilagi out for at least a month
The Breakdown

With Manu Tuilagi out of the autumn Tests, England’s midfield alternatives continue to polarise opinion. Stuart Lancaster has indicated that Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond are under consideration to play together against New Zealand next month but, according to Bath’s head coach, Mike Ford, a potentially better idea would be to pick Eastmond alongside his club team-mate Jonathan Joseph.

Having scored six tries in seven games before Bath’s European showdown with Toulouse this weekend, Joseph is the country’s in-form 13 and Ford believes England have as much a stylistic choice to make as a personnel decision. “It’s not just the individuals, it’s the type of football you want to play,” suggested Ford, whose son George is also hoping to be involved for England this autumn.

“There’s no point Kyle playing with someone for England who’s not on the same wavelength because his skills will be negated. Kyle’s really good at running to the line and making that deft pass which commits defenders. If there’s no-one who can run on to that there’s no point Kyle doing it. If you’re going to use Kyle you’ve got to complement him.”

That could yet bring Joseph into the equation if he shows up well against Toulouse and impresses in training with England next week. At his best, his pace allows him to glide past defenders on the outside in a classical manner seldom seen these days. He has also toughened up considerably since he won the first of his six previous caps for England in 2012.

“The thing about JJ which was a question-mark for me was his durability,” confirmed Ford. “I’d only seen him playing with George in the under-20s and I thought he was a bit soft and superstar-ish – but you meet the kid and he’s not. He’s just a bit shy and simply needs pointing in the right direction alongside the right people. Since day one here he’s been anything other than soft.”

Ford added: “He’s started all seven games this season and he’s been excellent. It’s a fantastic option for Stuart to have. He offers something different to Manu. There’s more ways to skin a cat than just brute force.”

Joseph, who attended Millfield School and made his senior debut for London Irish, confirms it took him a while to appreciate the levels of commitment required to be a top international. “Growing up I always found rugby quite easy but there’s no hiding away from it,” he admitted: “You’ve also got to put in the hard work and that’s what it’s about. You have to put the extra hours in. Two or three years ago I was quite inexperienced. I think I’ve now got a better understanding of what it’s about.”

England’s coaches insist they will not be picking club combinations simply for the sake of it but have emphasised they want their centres to have “presence”, whether that be physical or otherwise. “It’s a lot to do with your character … they’re also looking for leadership quality, which is hopefully getting better,” said Joseph.

Back in Bath, Ford says he knew in July that the 23-year-old had turned over a new leaf: “I said in pre-season: ‘This kid’s figured it out.’ He’s always been a good professional but he’s now obsessive. You could tell in pre-season that he had the bit between his teeth in terms of doing extra analysis, staying behind to stretch, doing things on his day off. He’s been on fire. He’s been doing all those tough things that people don’t see as well as beating defenders and scoring tries.”

It will be fascinating to see what happens if Joseph continues to play in technicolour. Eastmond has sore ribs, which threaten to prevent him from playing against Toulouse, and Joseph acknowledges it is “a massive game” for the club following their heavy defeat in Glasgow last weekend.

When he joins up with England for training in Bagshot, it will also be up to him to prove his pace and instinctive running can disconcert even the most tightly packed Test defence. “I guess it’s just what the coach wants to go with,” he said. “There does have to be a balance … you can have different players, sizes and abilities but it’s a case of whether they can play together at the highest level.”

If England do not find the perfect blend, it could be another frustrating autumn.

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