HARRY AND ANDY HAVE GOODE THING GOING
For five seasons Harry Ellis and Andy Goode were the names inked on the Leicester Tigers’ team sheet at No9 and No10. Fly-half Goode headed to Brive in south France in the summer but, as lady fortune intervened, the duo rekindled their partnership at Twickenham last Saturday in England’s 36-11 win over Italy.
Last month Goode, who had been in the international wilderness for over two years, was pulled into the England squad by former Tigers team-mate Martin Johnson, and – following an injury to Toby Flood, and with Danny Cipriani being dropped to the Saxons – was handed the No10 jersey against the Azzurri. He duly crossed for a try after only 94 seconds to announce his return.
Similarly with 26-year-old Ellis, two years Goode’s junior, an element of kismet played a part in his re-elevation to the England team. After being overlooked for Harlequins’ Danny Care in the autumn, he was then banned for six weeks after he dropped Daniel Carter dangerously in a Heineken Cup game. When Care slipped on an icy step before the Italy game, Ellis was promoted from the Saxons and won plaudits for his two-try, man-of-the-match showing.
“I was on the bench for the autumn internationals and then was banned, so I was away from rugby for a while,” says the 26-year-old. “So I was delighted to get the chance to get back in the England team, alongside Andy, and I enjoyed the victory against Italy.
“It’s been great to link up with Andy again – the last time we played together was in the Guinness Premiership final back in May (which Leicester lost 26-16). It is good to be playing with him again – he is a very talented fly-half.
“We communicate well and I have been lucky enough to play alongside him for a number of years. I just try and give a good service to whoever is playing No10, but it helps when you know what to expect from them – where they will be and what sort of pass they want. It’s just funny how things work out.”
Ellis, who made his Tigers’ debut in 2001 and was named young player of the season that year, is determined to make the most of his good fortune – and hopes to inspire England to victory over Wales.
He continues: “I came in late because of Danny’s injury, but I am just trying to take my opportunity because that chance does not come round too often. We have very high standards and a good work ethic, and I thought I could have improved against Italy. Hopefully we can all iron out the mistakes we make against Italy in time for this Saturday’s match. We need to improve in pretty much every area against the Welsh.
“I can’t wait to play against Mike Phillips, or the other two scrumhalves – they are all great. Wales have a very talented team and they are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. The Millennium Stadium is a difficult place to play, too. There will be a great atmosphere but we are all relishing the opportunity to play against them in their back yard.”
Goode, currently the leading points scorer in France’s Top 14, is far more comfortable having Ellis inside him. “I have played with Harry for a countless number of years and we have built up a good relationship,” he says. “He naturally knows where I will be, and I know what to expect from him.
“He probably picks up my voice more quickly than other No9s, without having to look, and he knows my game-plan. He knows that I like to stand flatter than most, and knows the depth that I like to take the ball at.”
In order for England to get quick ball, Goode believes that his pal at scrum-half needs to be protected by the forwards. In particular, Wales’ openside flanker, Martyn Williams needs to be stopped.
“We need to target Williams, because he will be trying to get over and slow the ball down. He is a very intelligent player. He gets in and around the breakdown and he does slow up a lot of ball. We need to target their backrow and give Harry a good platform to play from and get some good, quick ball away.
“If Harry is digging in the ruck because we are not clearing out as well as we can, then it makes everything that much harder. But it was good to play with Harry last week, and hopefully we can do even better at Cardiff this week.”
For five seasons Harry Ellis and Andy Goode were the names inked on the Leicester Tigers’ team sheet at No9 and No10. Fly-half Goode headed to Brive in south France in the summer but, as lady fortune intervened, the duo rekindled their partnership at Twickenham last Saturday in England’s 36-11 win over Italy.
Last month Goode, who had been in the international wilderness for over two years, was pulled into the England squad by former Tigers team-mate Martin Johnson, and – following an injury to Toby Flood, and with Danny Cipriani being dropped to the Saxons – was handed the No10 jersey against the Azzurri. He duly crossed for a try after only 94 seconds to announce his return.
Similarly with 26-year-old Ellis, two years Goode’s junior, an element of kismet played a part in his re-elevation to the England team. After being overlooked for Harlequins’ Danny Care in the autumn, he was then banned for six weeks after he dropped Daniel Carter dangerously in a Heineken Cup game. When Care slipped on an icy step before the Italy game, Ellis was promoted from the Saxons and won plaudits for his two-try, man-of-the-match showing.
“I was on the bench for the autumn internationals and then was banned, so I was away from rugby for a while,” says the 26-year-old. “So I was delighted to get the chance to get back in the England team, alongside Andy, and I enjoyed the victory against Italy.
“It’s been great to link up with Andy again – the last time we played together was in the Guinness Premiership final back in May (which Leicester lost 26-16). It is good to be playing with him again – he is a very talented fly-half.
“We communicate well and I have been lucky enough to play alongside him for a number of years. I just try and give a good service to whoever is playing No10, but it helps when you know what to expect from them – where they will be and what sort of pass they want. It’s just funny how things work out.”
Ellis, who made his Tigers’ debut in 2001 and was named young player of the season that year, is determined to make the most of his good fortune – and hopes to inspire England to victory over Wales.
He continues: “I came in late because of Danny’s injury, but I am just trying to take my opportunity because that chance does not come round too often. We have very high standards and a good work ethic, and I thought I could have improved against Italy. Hopefully we can all iron out the mistakes we make against Italy in time for this Saturday’s match. We need to improve in pretty much every area against the Welsh.
“I can’t wait to play against Mike Phillips, or the other two scrumhalves – they are all great. Wales have a very talented team and they are playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. The Millennium Stadium is a difficult place to play, too. There will be a great atmosphere but we are all relishing the opportunity to play against them in their back yard.”
Goode, currently the leading points scorer in France’s Top 14, is far more comfortable having Ellis inside him. “I have played with Harry for a countless number of years and we have built up a good relationship,” he says. “He naturally knows where I will be, and I know what to expect from him.
“He probably picks up my voice more quickly than other No9s, without having to look, and he knows my game-plan. He knows that I like to stand flatter than most, and knows the depth that I like to take the ball at.”
In order for England to get quick ball, Goode believes that his pal at scrum-half needs to be protected by the forwards. In particular, Wales’ openside flanker, Martyn Williams needs to be stopped.
“We need to target Williams, because he will be trying to get over and slow the ball down. He is a very intelligent player. He gets in and around the breakdown and he does slow up a lot of ball. We need to target their backrow and give Harry a good platform to play from and get some good, quick ball away.
“If Harry is digging in the ruck because we are not clearing out as well as we can, then it makes everything that much harder. But it was good to play with Harry last week, and hopefully we can do even better at Cardiff this week.”
Labels: Andy Goode, England, Harry Ellis, Martin Johnson, RBS 6 Nations
