GEORGE KRUIS SAID England resisted the urge to “smash-up” Wales during Monday’s unprecedented joint training session in order to gain an insight into their set-piece strength.
The Six Nations rivals locked horns in the southwestern city of Bristol, completing 12 scrums and 16 line-outs over 40 minutes under the scrutiny of referee Nigel Owens to hone their set pieces ahead of their Autumn series.
“There was definitely intent there,” said Kruis. “I’d say we were professional enough to control ourselves and understand it was a training tool rather than a smash-up on the Monday of a Test week.”
“We went in there trying to get a squeeze on and as much out of it as we could. We wanted to win every scrum and wanted the intent, but it also gave ourselves the opportunity to trial a few things and see where we’re at.
“It was under Test match intensity, but was a good tool for us. It definitely lets us know where we’re at as a pack and has shown us things that maybe we need to work on for this week.”
England play Argentina on Saturday before Australia and Samoa visit Twickenham, knowing that come the end of November their record under Eddie Jones could stand at 22 wins from 23 Tests.
“It’s tough sometimes training against yourselves because you know the calls, you know what they’re going to do,” said the England and Saracens lock.
“Wales didn’t know what we were going to bring, it was reffed by a top quality referee which puts pressure on to your delivery and everything that comes with it.
“Argentina are a huge set-piece team and they had a good go at us down in Argentina in the summer, especially at the scrum, so there will be a huge focus on that.”
England have yet to rule Elliot Daly out of the series opener against the Pumas.
Daly injured his knee on Champions Cup duty for Wasps and was expected to miss the Tests against Argentina and Australia and potentially return for the last Test, against Samoa, but he could yet be involved from the start.
England are in the midst of a wing injury crisis having lost Jack Nowell and Jonny May to the treatment room, making Daly’s availability, should he be passed fit, welcome news for Jones.
England scrum coach Neal Hatley said: “Elliot is in camp and being assessed. We’ve been pretty busy so we’ll find out more about him later in the day.”
Warren Gatland’s Wales play Australia on Saturday and have further matches against Georgia, New Zealand and South Africa.
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I don’t see how playing in France is going to prolong his career. Best of luck to him though. A great city and a club on the rise again.
@Cian Nolan: ya didn’t get that. Thought maybe he meant he’d make more money??
Toulon are putting together some pack for next year.
@Darren Byrne: Hopefully Toulouse will be able to challenge them with the addition of Arnold.
@Darren Byrne: Toulon, Toulouse, meanwhile the French youngsters get less and less prime exposure at the top level, the demise of the French team is a bad development for NH rugby.