Six Nations 2018: Joe Launchbury credits England man with transforming his game
JOE LAUNCHBURY will raise his bat for a half-century of caps on Saturday but has been raising the bar for the last two years thanks to Eddie Jones and his coaching team.
The Wasps second row is almost certain to be picked to face Scotland at Murrayfield having got himself back into the front row of England locks.
He started Jones’s first game in charge, also at Murrayfield, in 2016, then had to watch as Maro Itoje and George Kruis took centre stage. But Launchbury has started 11 out of England’s last 12 after adding an edge and lineout prowess to his game.
He puts this down to England forwards coach Steve Borthwick, a former second row, who has been the first lock to coach him after a couple of props in Dai Young at Wasps and Graham Rowntree at England.
“Credit to Eddie and Steve Borthwick who’s been fantastic with me in the lineout, trying to improve me and to upskill me,” said Launchbury.
“That’s been my biggest development, and my willingness to get stuck in. Those points are still there to work on. I’ve certainly not cracked it.
“My attention to detail at set-piece is better. I certainly wasn’t blasé with it before, I always worked really hard at it but perhaps didn’t really understand what it took to be an international front-five. I did enjoy the set-piece but didn’t give it the full attention it deserved.
“Steve is the first forwards coach I’ve had who has been a second row. The others have been props and they’re fantastic at what they do, but that attention to me as a jumper, which Steve’s brought , has been fantastic.”
Jones added: “Myself and Steve have always thought that he is a good player. The area we had our concern around was his lineout jumping ability – his general play has always been outstanding.
“Now that’s not an area to hold him back, he has worked very hard. He is held in very high regard by us.”
Launchbury has a reputation as a workhorse but he showed his flamboyant side in the 12-6 win over Wales with his one-handed off-load that made Jonny May’s second try.
That proved he is an all-round player and miles away from the one who made his debut against Fiji at Twickenham in 2012 under Stuart Lancaster.
And at just 26 it is not unrealistic to foresee him raising his bat for a century of caps a few years down the line.
“It’s crept up a bit,” Launchbury said. “I never thought at one moment I would get 50 caps. So if the opportunity arises, it will be a fantastic achievement and one that will make my family really proud.
“Mako Vunipola and I were talking about it the other night. We made out debuts together and have been in and around the team since then and have had some great moments in an England shirt. Hopefully there are more to come.”
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has added six players to his Calcutta Cup squad.
Harlequins wing Tim Visser and Gloucester centre Matt Scott are the two backs to be added, while tight-head prop Willem Nel returns from the broken arm he sustained against Samoa in the Autumn Tests.
Sale Sharks back-row Josh Strauss, Glasgow Warriors lock Tim Swinson and uncapped Glasgow Warriors hooker James Malcolm are also included.