Borth: We don’t give a ruck about tactics
ENGLAND insist they are ready for all eventualities after being warned by Italy to expect more trickery in Rome today.
Eddie Jones’ men launch their title defence and quest for an unprecedented hat-trick of championship crowns at the Stadio Olimpico with the memory of last year’s showdown still vivid.
Italy employed controversial no-ruck tactics to spread confusion for much of the first half at Twickenham.
Although the ruse cannot be repeated due to a law change, they have planned several new tricks to level the playing field.
Brendan Venter, the
Azzurri’s coaching consultant and the architect of ‘ruckgate’, has declared that a normal gameplan will not work but the champions are prepared for the unusual.
England forwards coach Steve Borthwick said: “We want our players to see what’s in front of them and adapt to whatever is posed.
“We have a squad who are hungry, want the ball, want to go forward and have the mindset to attack. Wherever we go we want to perform to the best of our ability.
“We’re aiming to continue to improve against Italy and have had a great two weeks of preparation.” An experienced Italy team coached by Conor O’Shea are not expected to trouble England.
The last time the underdogs triumphed in the Six Nations was against Scotland in 2015. But Borthwick (below) knows their potential to cause problems, having been captain for a tense 23-19 victory in Rome in 2008.
“Italy have some very good players and also a very experienced coaching staff, so we know they’ll be very well prepared,” he said. “This is international rugby and these games are always intense encounters and we’re expecting that intensity against Italy.”
With Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes out injured, Exeter No.8 Sam Simmonds will get his opportunity to impress. Simmonds, 23, may lack the size of the two missing men, but he is effective in a different way. “Sam is quick off the base of the scrum, he finds space when he carries and is very hard-working,” said Borthwick. “You need a balance of ball carrying across your pack. Look at Courtney Lawes’ footwork and the way Sam finds space. There are different types of carriers and that mix is a positive.”
PHIL GIRVAN