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Why Nick Easter is worried about England

Nick Easter /PA

Former captain Nick Easter believes England’s formidable pack has suddenly become vulnerable thanks to a catalogue of problems which offers Scotland the chance to register their first win at Twickenham for 38 years in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener.

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Easter’s concerns are understandable given that England cannot call upon the injured trio of Joe Launchbury, Mako Vunipola and Sam Underhill while Kyle Sinckler is banned and Joe Marler has gone into self-imposed exile again. Add to those absentees at Twickenham, key forwards Maro Itoje and Jamie George have not played since helping England win the Autumn Nations Cup against France on December 6 while Billy Vunipola has managed just one game against Ealing Trailfinders.

In essence England face Scotland without three ball-carrying threats in Mako Vunipola, Sinckler and Launchbury who is also the best line out maul defender in Europe. In the face of this denuded armoury, Easter expects Jones to “go big” and bring in Exeter lock Jonny Hill for Launchbury and use Northampton’s Courtney Lawes as the blindside flanker. Not surprisingly, Easter, who is now Newcastle’s defence coach, puts in a strong case for the inclusion of Falcons flanker Mark Wilson whose hard-nosed approach to any challenge could be needed against a feisty Scottish pack.

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Eddie Jones explains his England squad:

Video Spacer

Eddie Jones explains his England squad:

Easter is also concerned about the lack of a Twickenham crowd which significantly reduces the fear factor for a Scotland team that staged one of the great comebacks last time they played at the home of English rugby ending up with a 38-38 draw having gone in at half time trailing 31-0.

The former Harlequins No8 told RugbyPass: “England are more vulnerable – 100 per cent – and the fact there is no crowd is also a factor. While Scotland have a terrible record at Twickenham (last win 1983) the last time they played they got the draw and I don’t believe the stadium has the same fear for the Scots. It is a completely different place without 82,000 fans and I don’t think there is a better time for Scotland to have England.

“The Scottish players having been involved in regular Pro14 games is also massively in their favour. There is also the disruption caused by the positive COVID-19 test for forwards coach Matt Proudfoot that has meant Jones has been isolating.

“With a new front row and the Saracens players not having played regular rugby means there are concerns because the stronghold of England under Eddie Jones has been the forward pack and they are the ones who have bullied Ireland and other nations and provided the platform to go and win games comfortably. You are taking quite a few ingredients out of there and there is little time before the first game to get that cohesion.”

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Easter
Former England No.8 Nick Easter (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Easter is taking comfort from the depth in English rugby and the success they have enjoyed under Jones who will be ramping up training to ensure his players are not shocked by the Scottish effort.

He added: “This is testing the strength in depth in English rugby and we haven’t had the current riches we see in the Premiership. I like the Jonny Hill and Maro Itoje combination and Hill made a big difference when he came in the last games against France and he fronts up every week in the Premiership and Maro is one of the most disruptive players in the game and I don’t see it being an issue in the second row. Jones likes Billy Vunipola but he hasn’t been the player of 2016-17 for a while now and that is why I think he will go with his biggest pack which means Courtney Lawes at No6.

“Jones likes Mark Wilson and he could pick Tom Curry and Mark and go with them. Jones is scarred from the World Cup final defeat and wants to go with bullying packs and Courtney could be deployed to counter the threat of the Scottish pack which has been coming on nicely.

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“There is a case for starting the Exeter boys because the Sarries guys haven’t been playing but someone like Jamie George is a stand out guy and has a big impact on the pack and England do lack leaders and we need more heading to the next World Cup. George is head and shoulders above the others.”

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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 2 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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