LOSE THIS AND ENGLAND ARE REALLY IN TROUBLE
It’s a stormy forecast for Edinburgh this weekend — which seems appropriate enough in England’s case because they are currently battling through choppy waters.
If they win at Murrayfield this evening, though, they will feel they have weathered the worst of the storm — and with Ireland and Wales at home to come before the formality of beating Italy in Rome, the season could yet end well. Lose and England and Eddie Jones will be in all sorts of bother.
No England team has ever been allowed the luxury of losing three matches in a row without a fullscale inquest and cries of ‘crisis’, especially as they played so well against Australia and New Zealand as recently as late October in Japan. Another defeat now would really light the touch paper for big changes. this is a serious moment for this team.
In that situation, every match becomes crucial, make or break — and it can become difficult to make clear decisions both on and off the field.
It’s an uncomfortable place to be, although most sides do have to endure it occasionally and, sometimes, it can be the making of teams if handled correctly.
I don’t think they will lose this evening. Jones has steadied the ship with a much more sensible selection than last week, although he still perplexes me by persisting with tom Curry at No 8 when there are other specialist players available. there is also no sign of a world- class young scrum- half which is equally baffling.
that apart, I sense a tightening up of England mentally and a determination to do whatever it takes to win today. I don’t want to see this side trying to be the ‘greatest ever rugby team’ or boasting about teaching their opponents the realities of test rugby.
I just want to see an England team who have done their homework to come up with a way of subduing and then beating a well-coached, lively scotland side who will try and make it as difficult and horrible as possible for England. It was ever thus. Was there really any need for nonsense talk of war and hatred this week?
Not for a minute do I believe England buy into that hype or feel any of those extreme emotions but, even if they do, they should just channel that emotion into a special performance.
Just running on to the Murrayfield pitch this evening and listening to the cheers and jeers followed by the anthems is all the spark you will need to get the adrenalin going. Perhaps I’m getting old but all this artificial pre-match rabble-rousing and bellicose talk is just wasted energy and emotion. As ever, actions speak louder than words.
I expect to see Owen Farrell back to his best — kicking goals and upping the intensity. I also expect a dominant England set-piece and an effective, efficient performance. the kind of display that marked their World Cup campaign until it all went wrong at the end.
On the subject of the weather, I am always puzzled why there is this tradition of naming teams 48 hours before kick-off. In that space of time, the weather and ground conditions can totally change.
In test cricket, the coach and captain sometimes leave it to the very last minute on the morning of the match before finalising their XI — I would be more than happy for rugby to follow suit. It would add a little intrigue and surprise to proceedings.
there are players who are good with the wet ball and others who are not so good. that would come into the equation — or if an unexpected gale- force wind arrives, you might be tempted to tweak your team accordingly.
Full-back, wings and fly-half are the obvious positions you might think twice over, while really wet weather accentuates the importance of the scrum and lineout, so you might want to opt for different tight forwards.
What of scotland? I would 100 per cent support Gregor townsend’s decision not to recall Finn Russell immediately after dropping him from the squad for their opening game following his late-night drinks and no show at training last month.
You sense there is more behind this spat than we know and, as a coach, I wouldn’t have appreciated Russell’s comments about his influence at half- time after scotland came back to draw 38-38 in a thriller at twickenham last year — but all that is just detail. the present reality is that Adam Hastings played very well in Dublin, the midfield looked quite comfortable together and the team generally responded.
No single player can ever be bigger than a team and, as much as we love Russell’s skills, they are frequently little cameos within an often-flawed overall display. I am excited as to what Hastings might do on his first Murrayfield start in the Championship.
so Russell will have to stew a little longer and, if scotland pull off a famous win, he might still find himself surplus to requirements when they play Italy in round three. He will return, but only when the time is right for townsend.
Meanwhile, for the time being at least, Russell won’t be the first sportsman to reflect that you don’t know how lucky and privileged you are until you have lost it.