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Why 15-Win England Need a Change: Six Talking Points from the First Round of the Six Nations

Scotland's Jonny Gray. Photo: Getty Images

Stuck for something to talk about in the bar later? James Harrington offers some Six Nations opening weekend topics to get the conversation started.

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Two early names written in ink on Lions’ tour squad list
Speculative British & Irish Lions’ touring party lists have been doing the rounds on social media for some time, despite the fact there’s a lot of rugby to play between now and the opening match in June. But, assuming Warren Gatland has a secret list of possibles, lightly written in pencil in a suitably merchandised lockable Lions’ notebook, two players will have prompted him to overwrite their names if not in permanent marker (a lot of rugby, remember?) then at least in biro. Neither Stuart Hogg or Jonny Gray are anything like surprise additions to the likely Lions’ list, but their performances in Scotland’s terrific victory over Ireland (only their second opening-day win in the 17-year history of the Six Nations) remain the talk of the weekend. Gray topped the tackle count with 28, as well Scotland’s carries-o-meter with 14. Hogg was, in equal measure, dangerous in attack and assured in defence – his brace of tries were the icing on the cake of a fine man-of-the-match performance. When king-of-the-understatement Vern Cotter admits both have done their chances ‘no harm at all’, you know they done good.

Ireland did not miss Johnny Sexton
Chances are Scotland would have won at Murrayfield even if Sexton had been on the pitch for Ireland. After a slow, maybe slightly nervy start, understudy Paddy Jackson did little wrong and plenty right. The visitors’ problems lay elsewhere – and they were nothing to do with their late arrival at Murrayfield, either. Ireland’s much-vaunted back row was harried and hounded and beaten at the breakdown time after time. It left Conor Murray with little but scraps to feed off until well into the second half, and that killed their challenge before it had started.

France need to rediscover the art of winning
France outplayed England for much of Saturday’s Six Nations’ encounter at Twickenham. Louis Picamoles, for whom the man-of-the-match award must be the most unwanted honour, was immense for Les Bleus, as were Virimi Vakatawa, Kevin Gourdan and Scott Spedding. And yet, France lost a game that they really should have won – for the third time in a row, if you look back to the November internationals. Coach Guy Novès may have had the support of the French rugby faithful coming into this Six Nations, but they will quickly run out of patience with brave defeats. Their next game is at home to Scotland, another side yet to be comfortable with consistent victories. A win – and a good one – is a must.

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Time for a change for England
You would think that continuing a winning streak should mean that the coach has no need to do any tinkering, but England coach Eddie Jones has the opposite problem. England won solely because they have got used to winning, just as France lost because they are hooked on losing. England were flat in the opening 20 minutes, off the pace in the second 20, and just hanging on in the third 20. It was only, really, when Jones cleared the bench – bringing on James Haskell, Jamie George, Danny Care, Ben Te’o and Jack Nowell – that England found a forward gear. There’s a clear argument for having these guys on from the start, with Owen Farrell taking over the captaincy. It was his decision to kick for the corner that led to the decisive try for Te’o, when going for the posts was the better percentage option, given there were still 10 minutes to play.

Rising injury list gives Wales jitters
Wales won in Rome on Sunday, but, on the whole, they were not big and they definitely were not clever. And now, they have bigger problems. With just six days between their opener against Italy and the big game of the second weekend, against England in Cardiff, George North and Dan Biggar are on the doubtful list. The latter is less of a concern, given Sam Davies’ performance at 10, but the powerful North, who ran in a 70m try despite only having 75% of his legs functioning at the time, is a major worry. Coach Rob Howley could not confirm whether Luke Charteris and Taulupe Faletau would be fit to face England at the weekend, leaving Wales with the prospect of facing the defending champions without four key players.

Aw, Referee!
Italy were more than a little unhappy with man-with-the-whistle JP Doyle on Sunday, who pinged them for 16 penalties to Wales’ five. Meanwhile Angus Gardner’s overly fussy refereeing at Twickenham did not help England or France find any kind of rhythm less than 24 hours earlier. Which was a shame, as the thrilling Six Nations’ curtain-raiser that unfolded in Edinburgh, where Romain Poite was officiating, deserved much better second and third acts. None of the four teams involved in the second two matches are without blame – Italy, in particular, should look to their own performance as much as JP’s – but some of the refereeing is hard to explain away.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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