England can capitalise on golden opportunity
Jones’ men to win Six Nations and whitewash South Africa, while Saracens will come good
Being No1 in the world has to be England’s target – no question. They have a lot going their way and must see 2018 as 12 months full of opportunity. They play all the blue teams away in the Six Nations – France, Scotland and Italy. They need to use the advantage of playing Ireland and Wales at Twickenham to create international momentum for a crack at the summit.
Everything about that fixture schedule suggests Grand Slam. There will be close games – a tough trip to Murrayfield; Ireland strong and getting stronger, microscopic in detail to unpick Paul Gustard’s defence – and I think there will be a slip-up. But if England want to progress, and deliver on the terms coach Eddie Jones has laid out, they have to view 2018 as a chance to lay down their marker in the year before the World Cup.
England’s summer tour to South Africa offers a huge opportunity to win 3-0, as they did in Australia in 2016. Then the big one against the All Blacks. I think New Zealand and England will be No1 and No2 in the world rankings before they meet at Twickenham in November, not least because I think the Irish will lose a Test in Australia. So when they meet for the first time in four years it will be a showdown for the top spot. What a chance for England, less than a year out from the Japan World Cup.
Talk to national coaches and they are clear: the World Cup is the prize that matters. The other games, part of the four-year cycle, are vital and historic parts, but they are for development and building. All the coaches are planning and preparing their teams to be at their peak in 2019.
With that comes a narrowing of the gaps in terms of fitness, ability and game execution. The margins for winning are razor thin and often what matters is that you, as a player, know deep down inside that you can beat any team in the world on any given day.
That is why England v New Zealand matters. If England can Jones has most of his team pencilled in for 2019. Even so, a big 2018 from some young lads could help them tie up the remaining slots. These include either of the two sensationally-talented Curry twins from Sale; Harry Williams of Exeter who will keep hunting down Dan Cole’s starting slot on the tight head; Marcus Smith will get a go in the main No 10 shirt; and the ghost of Manu Tuilagi past may still breath life into his stop/start rugby career.
Keep watching Hadleigh Parkes and Aaron Shingler of Wales; the comeback kid Cian Healy looks so dynamic right now and Bundee Aki
I love a bit of a punt and La Rochelle can rip through you from everywhere on the park
will have a big impact when he is unleashed on the Six Nations. The sheer excellence of Scotland’s little maestro Hamish Watson at No 7 will almost certainly give him the most turnovers in the Six Nations, while Stuart Hogg will look to have England chasing shadows on Feb 24.
For France, Wesley Fofana is back from a snapped Achilles and may revive their fortunes, while La Rochelle’s kid sensation is their hooker, and a man who could be the best supersub in the Champions Cup, Pierre Bourgarit.