Joe Marchant can be a surprise hit on the wing - and what Eddie Jones' bold picks really mean

England have named their squad to face South Africa, bringing us closer to Saturday’s compelling World Cup final rematch amid the numerous sideshows.

As ever, Eddie Jones has provided plenty of discussion points as he attempts to counter the Springboks’ considerable strengths.

Catch and counterattack

A third match, a third right wing. The autumn tinkering with England’s back line continues. But do not brand Joe Marchant a panic selection.

Involved in September’s training camp, the 25-year-old was not part of a 34-man squad named by Eddie Jones on Oct 18. Marchant was whisked in only when the severity of Anthony Watson’s knee injury became clear. He spends most of his time on club duty as an outside centre, usually moving out wide late in matches as Harlequins make replacements and rearrange.

However, Marchant is nicely suited to how England’s wings have been operating. Against Tonga and Australia, Adam Radwan and Freddie Steward - because it was the young Leicester Tigers cub in the right-wing role, with Manu Tuilagi operating as a centre and Henry Slade at full-back - roamed across the field.

Steward cut an angle off the shoulder of Marcus Smith to slice through the Wallabies after swinging around towards the left flank (watch video below).

Speaking on Thursday, Jonny May admitted that England’s attack was still finding its feet and getting used to the methods of Martin Gleeson. One tactical wrinkle has been obvious, though. The back three are encouraged to hunt the ball together and flood into the same 15-metre channel as a trio.

Jones has been questioned about his habit of cramming centres into teams, but it makes a lot of sense in this instance. After arcing across the pitch towards the opposite touchline, wings will often end up handling the ball in midfield.

The ploy could be particularly effective against South Africa because it gives their defenders more runners to worry about.

Springboks centre Lukhanyo Am is phenomenal at shooting up to make momentum-stalling tackles. In the image below against Scotland last Saturday, both Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson want the ball from Ali Price, which leads to confusion and allows Am to shoot up and spoil things.

Track South Africa’s imperious outside centre, who is central to forcing the decisive turnover. He capitalises on an instant of indecision as first-receiver Schoeman turns and finds his path to Russell blocked off by Fagerson:

England’s swinging wings, as seen below against Tonga, might incite a bit of doubt in his mind.

Scotland’s second try at Murrayfield on Saturday came from a set move that England have been using throughout the autumn. Matt Scott stood at first-receiver and found Finn Russell behind the decoy angle of fellow centre Chris Harris.

Duhan van der Merwe circled around to take another pass from his fly-half. Am and Makazole Mapimpi, so often leaders of South Africa’s ultra-aggressive blitz, were overloaded and outflanked. Van der Merwe looped the ball over Willie le Roux for Stuart Hogg to score.

Marchant, who is a deceptively powerful and pacey carrier, can be an influential distributor. His familiarity with Smith is handy, too. Of course, unless Slade drops into the backfield again, he will be in the firing line of South Africa’s notorious kicking game. Although Mapimpi sets the standard for commitment and athleticism when chasing after kicks, Marchant will spring off the ground to compete in the air.

Both of South Africa’s tries at Murrayfield, each of them finished by Mapimpi, came on the back turnovers following high balls that had been hoisted by Elton Jantjies.

May knows that he, Steward and Marchant will need to hold firm because the Springboks do not get enough credit for their clinical attack.

“They want to play that pressure game,” the Gloucester man said. “When the game breaks down and opens up on their terms, that’s when they’ve got dangerous players.

“They do have the ability to move the ball wide. We have to be red-hot and alert in those transition periods. Ultimately, if we can win those contest areas – the breakdown, set-piece, the air – it’s going to be a bit of a stalemate until somebody cracks. At that point, it’s on which team can take their chances.”

Marchant landed a pair of tries to sign off Harlequins’ stunning Premiership semi-final heist against Bristol Bears last season. He also scored on his one and only England start to date, a World Cup warm-up win over Italy in 2019. He knows about taking chances. Now Jones has handed him a big one.

Joe Marler: England’s 'knight in shining armour'

One man to have enjoyed an excellent autumn is Alex Corbisero. His punditry on set-piece exchanges, especially scrummaging, illuminates the dark arts brilliantly. In an appearance on the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast this week, he focussed on his former position – loosehead prop – and praised Bevan Rodd for a busy Test debut against Australia.

However, he called Joe Marler a “knight in shining armour” and suggested that England will need the Harlequin to emerge from COVID isolation. As it happens, Marler is among the replacements as Rodd retains his starting berth.

South Africa have the front-row resources to finish strongly. Remember how a scrum penalty eventually clinched the British and Irish Lions series decider? Marler can be vital.

Corbisiero highlighted a 38th-minute penalty to demonstrate where the Springboks would target Rodd:

According to Corbisiero, the movement of Rodd’s feet under pressure just after the engage is what causes England to splinter. This slow-motion replay shows the subtle shuffle of Rodd’s left foot that leads to fatal instability:

Matt Proudfoot, the England forwards coach, has since pointed to James Slipper’s experience as evidence of Rodd’s impressive introduction. In truth, the vast majority of Slipper’s 113 caps have come at loosehead rather than tighthead, where he was on Saturday.

Jacques Nienaber, the South Africa head coach, spoke generously about England’s scrummaging on Tuesday. He seemed sincere, but will also be scenting blood.

Corbisiero told BBC Rugby Union Weekly that it is what the Springboks do during the weight transfer before the ball even comes in that makes their scrummaging so dominant:

Opta’s numbers bear out Corbisiero’s insight. South Africa have had 11 scrum put-ins over their games against Wales and Scotland. They have returned eight penalties from those without once losing possession. England, on the other hand, have had 13 put-ins and have conceded three penalties from scrums against Tonga and Australia.

Rodd’s mobility and skills make him perfect for a fast start, and Marler is a valuable contingency.

Variation crucial to lineout success for England

Lood de Jager’s return to South Africa’s starting side, with Franco Mostert joining the Bomb Squad, indicates an impending assault on the England lineout.

De Jager, remember, is the man who arrived from the bench to swing the second Test away from the British and Irish Lions in the summer. In harness with the domineering Eben Etzebeth, he will be out to give Jamie Blamire a difficult afternoon.

England have loaded up with Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje and captain Courtney Lawes in the back five of their pack. Interestingly enough, Hill has been the top target this autumn:

And, as Opta detail in this table, there has been variety to the set-ups:

At shorter lineouts, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill have been used as midfield runners. From six- and seven-man set-ups, England have tended to run a similar shape with one centre at first-receiver as their fly-half and blindside wing fade behind a surging Tuilagi.

Samu Kerevi was pivotal for Australia in the Wallabies’ back to-back victories over in the Rugby Championship, so England will not be afraid to head up the middle as well.

Movement, misdirection and accuracy will be the key to the lineout platform allowing these strike-moves to trouble the Springboks.