"I Respect him Massively as a coach" – Jamie George: England skipper excited for Eddie Jones Twickenham return and talks Asher Opoku-Fordjour's debut

Today at 10:55 AM

There are two polarising arrivals at the Allianz Stadium today, as England take on Japan in the fourth round of the Autumn Nations Series. On one end of the scale is the highly anticipated debut of top rated prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour, and on the other end is rugby’s ultimate pantomime villain as Eddie Jones returns to Twickenham in charge of the Brave Blossoms.

England captain Jamie George is excited to witness the reactions that both men will receive at the home of English Rugby, and addressed the duo’s incoming arrivals in a recent media session. George began on Asher Opoku-Fordjour, with the 20-year-old taking up a seat on the bench as England’s replacement tight-head. The Sale Sharks man has been in the England camp for the past three weeks, having gotten the call to join up at Pennyhill Park following the international retirement of Joe Marler.

As you might foresee, Opoku-Fordjour has the unique talent of being able to pack down both sides of the scrum, with Borthwick blessed with the option to unleash the Sale man as a replacement loose head or tight head prop. George was full of praise for the most talked about young talent in the English game, who is set to make his mark upon the Allianz Stadium this afternoon.

"We are all very excited.” George said. “I haven't worked with Asher for that long but I have been impressed with how he has come in, applied himself and been keen to learn. A player that age, able to play both sides at Premiership level and getting his opportunity now at international level is very exciting. So the focus for the rest of us, particularly in the pack is to make sure it is a very special day for him.”

"Steve quite enjoys people getting stitches, especially young players. He gets stuck in. Obviously there is going to be a lot of focus on his set-piece ability, and we have been very impressed with him there, but he moves very well with ball in hand so he knows the game and he is a very, very good athlete. Hopefully he  gets the opportunity to show that. It has been pretty common recently. I think Ollie Lawrence might be wearing a headband this weekend.

“Look, he’s (Opoku-Fordjour) got fantastic feet. He genuinely, I hadn’t seen too much of that previously. Obviously, I’m not like a Sale die-hard, so I don’t watch all of their games, but I’ve obviously played against him and watched some of his games.

“And, that’s why I’m saying, hopefully he gets the opportunity to get the ball in his hands, because he is a very dangerous threat there. And I think, you know, set piece is one thing, but what he can add (with the ball), that’s very much what the modern game is about now, as a front row forward. He’s very strong, very, very strong. I think, you know, there’s always going to be areas that he can work on as… what is he? 20 year old prop.

“He plays both sides. You know, but, you know, I think there areas that Dan Cole can work on too. It’s constantly evolving. You know what I mean He’s a very, very talented scrummager. He has a very, very strong, very strong core, which is probably the reason why he’s so effective on both sides.”

Casting his attention on to the return of Eddie Jones, Jamie George hopes that the England crowd will give the Australian a warm reception once he is shown on the big screens. Jones was the head coach of England from 2016 to 2022, and won England an assortment of accolades including the 2016 Six Nations Grand Slam and 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.

"He did a huge amount and is someone I respect massively as a coach.” George Said. “He did brilliant things, some of the things he achieved with the England team were fantastic. I know lots of people have been outspoke about the way he went about things and they  are very much entitled to their opinion but the English fans will certainly give him the respect he deserves.

“The smile on your face, I think, answers the question. We’re very much aware of it. Look, he’s a master at getting teams up for big games. I know that for him in particular, but for most teams around the world, playing England at the Alliance stadium is a big game.

“So he’s going to be up for this one. He’s going to have Japan as well prepared as he possibly can. We’re going to expect the unexpected, because that’s the sort of innovative coach that Eddie is. And yeah, we’re excited, and look forward to catching up with him afterwards.”

“I think the English fans will see, you know, or would have seen the amount of effort that he put into the English game. And as I said, I think we achieved a lot under him as a coach. So yeah, I anticipate that to be the case.”

“Look, he’s a master at getting teams up for big games. I know that for him in particular, but for most teams around the world, playing England at the Alliance stadium is a big game.

“So he’s going to be up for this one. He’s going to have Japan as well prepared as he possibly can. We’re going to expect the unexpected, because that’s the sort of innovative coach that Eddie is. And yeah, we’re excited, and look forward to catching up with him afterwards.”

“I think the English fans will see, you know, or would have seen the amount of effort that he put into the English game. And as I said, I think we achieved a lot under him as a coach. So yeah, I anticipate that to be the case.”

The post “I Respect him Massively as a coach” – Jamie George: England skipper excited for Eddie Jones Twickenham return and talks Asher Opoku-Fordjour’s debut appeared first on Ruck.