Eddie's so right, power's only part of the answer

I heard about a video clip from Eddie Jones doing the rounds last week in which he talked about the balance between skill and physicality. Now I’m not one who often finds myself agreeing with the England head coach, but ‘mate’ you are spot on!

- SHANE WILLIAMS

If you check it out on Twitter you’ll see just how many people, including ex-internationals are backing the man that so many of them love to hate. He certainly hit the sweet-spot on this occasion.

“In the northern hemisphere they’ve allowed physicality to become too important. The easy part is the physical, the hardest part is skill – the catch, the pass and the decision making. You have to spend more time on those areas.

“The gym part is the easy part. It’s easy to get fit and it’s easy to get stronger. New Zealand have a beautiful balance between athleticism and skill and that’s why they are the best team in the world.”

He talked about a young, exciting player he knew who had been told by his club that the first thing he needed to do was put on 7kgs in weight. It has become the mantra of so many directors of rugby and S&C coaches in our part of the world.

The only point I would take issue on with Eddie is that the way in which his England teams have played for much of his time in charge has been based on the physical. He loves nothing more than seeing his biggest players running the hardest and shortest of lines. So, are we going to see a change in style from his side in the upcoming Six Nations?

We’ve seen some incredibly expansive and high scoring games in recent weeks in the Gallagher Premiership, but there weren’t too many signs of that approach sifting through into the England side that won the Autumn Nations Cup. Maybe he has had an epiphany.