England head coach Shaun Wane has been encouraged to make key changes to his spine if they’re to avoid losing the Ashes in the second Test at Everton.
With Australia having taken a 1-0 lead by winning the Ashes opener 26-6 at Wembley, England must avoid defeat to give themselves a chance going into the final Test at Headingley.
Saying that and doing that are two very different things with England looking a good few gears behind Australia, who didn’t really seem to ever take it out of second gear.
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In Reece Walsh, they have arguably the most in-form player in the world and he showed that as he tore Shaun Wane’s side apart with England having no answer to him, and no one who could do similar damage to the Kangaroos.
That has seen widescale calls for NRL playmaker AJ Brimson to feature, either at full-back or in the halves, and the NRL media are making the same suggestion as well.
What changes do England need to make to beat Australia?
Fox Sports’ Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander debated where he could play with Voss not advocating for a change in the halves, but Alexander insisting that Brimson must play, even if as a 14.
Former England international Josh Hodgson argued that more players with experience against Australians should have been selected, as he claimed that Luke Thompson could have featured.
On that basis, Michael Ennis agreed: “George Williams was their best today, he’s played against these blokes.
“I felt like Welsby and Lewis just sat back a fraction today. At least Brimson plays against these blokes every week.
“If you’ve got Williams creating those half chances, well AJ can turn half chances into points pretty quickly.”
For him, either Mikey Lewis needs to start taking the line on more or Brimson assume that role but for Matty Johns, a change at full-back is needed and it’s not Brimson replacing Welsby.
Explaining that England are ‘not good at advancing the ball sideways’, he called for Herbie Farnworth to shift to full-back and help lead a middle of the field assault.
“I’d be going Herbie to fullback, I’d be bringing AJ into the side and finding a way,” Johns argued.
“I’d just do a middle third assault, beat Australia right through the middle. Get guys like Dom Young in the middle of the field.”
Shaun Wane has plenty of options but he has just a week to work out the formula for his side to either win or at least avoid defeat and give themselves a chance at Headingley.
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