Leadership vacuum might be a little strong but there is certainly a leadership committee, and once George departs early in the second half, as has happened in all three autumn Tests, England’s decision-making and strategic choices often give off a chaotic air of many cooks spoiling a quite substantial load of broth.
The imbroglio, therefore, is what to do about George. A fine player on his day, of course, but one wonders whether those days might have passed.
The Saracen remains England’s best set-piece hooker but if a situation arises whereby George is not the country’s best hooker – and it is arguable that such a scenario has already arisen – then it would be fair to assume that he is keeping his place in the starting XV owing to his leadership credentials.
But, if that is the case, then why are England being deprived of their leader around the 50-minute mark, at the time of their most desperate need?
A different era, of course, but one would never have seen Johnson treated in similar fashion; nor, more recently Courtney Lawes and Owen Farrell, the two England captains in recent times who have both inspired others and been world-class in their position.
George addressed the situation after Saturday’s defeat to South Africa. England’s captain has continued to back the strategy – there are so few teams in the world that would expect their front-rowers to play the full 80 minutes – but after the loss he gave the strongest hint yet that, maybe, he had been hooked too early.
“I felt alright out there but if it’s the best thing for the team for Luke [Cowan-Dickie] to come on…,” George told the BBC. “If you have the likes of Luke and Theo [Dan] coming off the bench – Luke was brilliant. It is an 80-minute performance in the No 2 jersey. We have great leadership on the field when I’m off it. I don’t see a problem there.”
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