No-fear culture reaps dividends in attack

England have outscored their rivals thanks to new coach Scott Wisemantel, writes Charlie Morgan

England have amassed 793 tackles during this Six Nations, 118 more than any other side. Head coach Eddie Jones was surely aware of that fact when he mischievously suggested that Wales’s Grand Slam chase could be slowed by their own defensive output.

But Jones will also know that England’s attacking efforts have been impressive. A tally of 19 tries is six greater than any rival. It is already their fourth-highest Six Nations total and a best since 2002, albeit still 10 short of their record: 29 in a 2001 season that featured an 80-23 thumping of hapless Italy.

As hooker Jamie George suggested yesterday, England’s tournament may be defined ultimately by a poor final 20 minutes in Cardiff. Even so, they have demonstrated a clinical edge to complement an ability to absorb pressure without the ball.

Scott Wisemantel’s stock has risen undeniably in his first Six Nations as Jones’s permanent attack coach. Although he declined to discuss his personal influence, the 48-year-old suggested “endeavour” as an aspect of England’s performances that has pleased him.

“We’re actually trying some things and slowly working out what suits our style, how it fits and then allowing players to express themselves,” Wisemantel said.

“I find professional players can become a bit conservative and afraid to make mistakes. So, we’re encouraging them to [think] you can make a mistake as long as it’s a constructive mistake; you’re trying to do something. It’s up to the coaches then to fix it. We’re going down that sort of route, trying to free them up a bit.”

Joking that he has watched the film

Braveheart “a few times”, and revealing that he has read up on the history of the Calcutta Cup, muchtravelled Wisemantel was complimentary about Scotland’s defiant second-half performance against Wales.

“They were a tad unlucky,” he said.

“They had, I think, eight minutes’ possession inside the Welsh 22 and couldn’t convert. If they convert just one of those opportunities, it’s a different game. I’m not saying it’s been a poor campaign. It’s just the margins are so fine.”

You have to go back to 2010, and a 23-20 victory over Ireland at Croke Park, to find Scotland’s last away win in the Six Nations against an opponent other than Italy. Scotland forwards coach Danny Wilson admitted that the side lacked “balance” during last month’s 27-10 defeat in Paris. With left-footed Henry Slade returning to England’s midfield, Wilson highlighted kicking as an area around which the hosts will base their game.

Captain Stuart Mcinally urged Scotland to end an underwhelming campaign on a high. “We are due ourselves and the whole of Scotland a strong performance,” the hooker said. “We will fight for everything and see if that is good enough. We have underperformed and we are desperate to put a good performance in to close this Six Nations.

“The best way to start well is through our defence. We are expecting them to run a lot. We expect to tackle and defend a lot. That is a good way for us to assert ourselves on the game. Starting well is mainly round defence. You tend to know straight away if you are there or not, in terms of the mindset and how physical you are on the day.”