Joseph Must Stop Ambling Through And Get Positive

IF Jonathan Joseph was more penetrative in his running, and making more clean breaks, there would be no discussion about the England 13 shirt because, rather than being ousted by Ben Te’o, he would have made it his own.

- Jeremy Guscott

Instead, the Bath outside-centre has been replaced in the starting line-up against Italy by Te’o, with Eddie Jones picking a man who has not played since being injured in October.

That is a serious warning shot. The signs were there that the England coach was not satisfied with Joseph’s progress because he was left out of the squad at the start of the season.

Work-rate is an issue with Joseph, with Jones suggesting he should go looking for the ball more. However, that’s what every player should do at international level and even more so because the 13 is so pivotal in defence as well as attack.

Outside-centres are now very much defensive leaders, and Joseph’s ability in that area is his trump card, and although he drops to the bench it is the main reason he is in the match 23.

He is not a stop-in your-tracks tackler but he is very effective. What a back of his size does not want is some giant running at him in a straight line, and I was similar in that regard. If you go low you are vulnerable to being bumped off or run over, and if you go high there is the danger they will simply push you off as you come in to tackle.

Instead, Joseph utilises his pace to get to the ball-carrier or intended receiver very quickly. That way you either push the attack back inside, or you give them the outside because the chance of them out-gassing you is not high. If they try it, you get the angle on them and scythe them down.

There’s a lot of thinking required when it comes to defending that 13 channel, and that’s why outside-centre has become such a high-salary position in today’s pro game.