GUIDE TO WHERE THE GAME WILL BE WON

COMPLETION IN THE RED ZONE

BOTH teams worked so hard to get within five metres of the try line last weekend, but came away with nothing on multiple occasions. Scotland had eight visits to the Irish 22 and coughed it up each time. People pointed the finger at Stuart Hogg for dropping the ball but there were eight times they didn’t convert. England visited the French red zone six times and didn’t convert. They turned down kicks for scrums, but you have to convert pressure into points. It’s one of the hardest places from which to attack because there’s no backfield, so you’ve got 15 people in the defensive line. Both teams will be focusing on being more clinical in that area.

THE GAIN LINE

ENGLAND lacked impetus in their physical game in Paris. The game is built around physicality and if you don’t have that you have no chance. By getting over the gain line, you get on the front foot, which means ruck speed goes up, which means the defence is not set. England will be very aware they need to hit harder, be more confrontational with carries and have an extra edge in defence. They need denting carries and England have the players to do it with Mako Vunipola and Lewis Ludlam recalled. Kyle Sinckler is Mr Gain Line, but England caught the ball standing still last week and that invited France to blitz them. I was impressed with Scotland’s physicality against Ireland. We’ve known for a while they have the ability to attack, but their physicality in the tackle area and carry was notable.

LEWIS LUDLAM v JAMIE RITCHIE

LEWIS is not the heaviest guy, but he never surrenders in the tackle. He wriggles and fights for another yard. There’s a real hunger for work and he will be integral to England getting front-foot, attacking ball. Jamie Ritchie epitomised Scotland’s confrontational attitude last week. He made some really strong, direct carries, but it was his manhandling defence that impressed me most. I’m looking forward to seeing Ludlam and Ritchie meeting head-on like two young bulls.