Eddie got it wrong last week – he needs to start Sam Underhill
While the dust settles after England’s defeat and the Scots are celebrating their unexpected win, it’s a good time to take a look at what went wrong.
Eddie Jones has had his inquest and will take from it a better understanding of his own part in England’s downfall. Jones said he would take full responsibility for the defeat. If true, he will not change anybody for France but I think that would be a mistake.
Part of England’s problem was the weight of expectation placed on their collective shoulders by their own coach, who has constantly heaped praise on his players. Although boosting confidence is generally a good thing, sometimes it can be beneficial for a player to have his faults pointed out and have a bit of uncertainty as to his probable selection.
The pressure was evident and manifested itself when Owen Farrell unnecessarily pushed a couple of Scottish players causing a scuffle in the tunnel before the game, as he ran in from the warm-up.
I am surprised the RFU did not take any action (given respect is one of their core values) as even a stern warning would have defused the situation and bought the matter to an end, without the need for a Six Nations intervention.
A review of selection should have been part of the Jones inquest just as the failure to identify the strength of the Scots around the breakdown and how to counteract it, should have been a fundamental part of the pre-match preparations.
It is no surprise that Scotland have a combative back row, it has been the case for many years and how to counter it has always been a part of England training, even when I was playing.
Jones is right when he says we all have our own thoughts on selection but his is the one that counts, we can only hope that he saw enough to change his thoughts, particularly on the back row.
England’s early success with Jones came with Robshaw and Haskell both playing in what they describe as a six and a half role, an open and blind side combination. Now it seems Jones has decided on his selection of Robshaw and Courtney Lawes – a six and a half and a five and a half, somewhere between flanker and second row.
With the new breakdown laws, it is all about speed and getting to the breakdown fast as you can get a firm grip on the ball and secure the turnover or a penalty.
I hope Jones noted the immediate improvement when Sam Underhill was introduced from the bench and doesn’t hold his reckless yellow card against him when selecting for France next week.
A back row with Robshaw and Underhill as flankers gives England the traditional balance that has been missing for a long time and could provide that extra element to propel the team onwards, providing the support, turnovers, or penalties that England need, if they are to get back to their winning ways.
Jones’ selection of a bigger, heavier pack in the hope they would bully and batter the Scots, was, in my opinion, a fundamental mistake. While it may be possible against the minor nations, players in Tier 1 countries are used to playing against bigger players and generally cannot be bullied.
As far as the scrum is concerned, I have to say I don’t understand the need for a scrum coach as it should be something they do naturally.
If, as England coach, I select a pack of forwards I would expect them to know their job and be able to sort out any imperfections with a little practice.
When I played for England, the scrum session took place at the end of training, either against another pack or a machine. Forwards coach, Big Rog (Roger Utley), left us to organise and prepare ourselves for the session because he realised that (as the best in our position in the country), we knew more about the technicalities and what was needed, than him.
England were always a dominant force in the scrums and should be now, but if there are mixed messages perhaps the collective unity needed for a successful scrum is being missed.
The lighter Scots worked out a tactic of holding England, putting a short drive on and collapsing, which gained them penalties as the referee penalised England for the collapse while Scotland were going forward, a clever and simple tactic.
However, the idea England could blame Nigel Owens for the defeat is ridiculous. If the players had adapted to what they were faced with, they should easily have stopped it.
Part of England’s problem could be training with Wayne Barnes as the team have adapted to his refereeing style, which is manifestly different to Nigel Owens.
As individuals in the loose, I thought the forwards played well (if ineffectively) following what they were coached to do.
“A back row with Robshaw and Underhill as flankers gives England the traditional balance that has been missing for a long time”