HOME COMFORTS COULD PROVE KEY AS ENGLAND LOOK FOR THAT TREBLE
THEY bombed out of the 2015 World Cup at the group stage following defeats to Wales and Australia at Twickenham, but the successes have rolled in under Eddie Jones.
The colourful Australian was appointed coach in the wake of that shambles and has presided over back to back Six Nations titles and the equalling of New Zealand’s Tier One-record winning streak of 18.
England have won 22 of their 23 Tests under Jones – their only defeat came against Ireland in Dublin in last season’s Six Nations – and whitewashed Australia on Wallaby soil in 2015. And they are the team to be beat in this year’s European title race. COACH: EDDIE JONES HE’S one of the cleverest operators in the game, having guided Australia to the 2003 World Cup final and being Jake White’s right-hand man when South Africa were crowned champions four years later. CAPTAIN: DYLAN HARTLEY EDDIE Jones has stuck with his controversial skipper despite Hartley being off form for 18 months and England having a superior hooker in Jamie George. KEY MAN: OWEN FARRELL WHEN the goal-kicking inside-centre or outside-half plays well, which is usually most of the time, so do the Six Nations champions. ROOKIE TO WATCH: SAM UNDERHILL THE openside flanker prospect switched from the Ospreys to Bath so he could be eligible for England selection and has already been rewarded with three caps. STRENGTHS HAVING the super-confident, meticulious and no-nonsense Jones in charge is a huge asset with his belief rubbing off on the England squad.
Throw in some world-class players, a number of outstanding young prospects and incredible depth, and you can see why they will be so hard to knock off their perch. AREAS TO TARGET HARTLEY has been so out of touch he can be got at, while their scrum could suffer with prop Joe Marler missing. Play-maker George Ford is a talented outside-half who blows hot and cold. His confidence is fragile and can’t be that high, coming from a badly misfiring Leicester Tigers team. KEY INJURIES NO.8 star Billy Vunipola, his deputy Nathan Hughes and Lions Test wing Elliot Daly are significant absentees, while others are also battling for fitness. LAST TIME OUT ROUNDED off their autumn internationals with a 48-14 victory over Samoa at Twickenham, having earlier hammered Australia 30-6 and beaten Argentina 21-8. ORDER OF GAMES Italy (a), Wales (h), France (a), Scotland (a), Ireland (h). WHAT THE COACH SAYS “EVERYONE wants to beat England, We have to live with and embrace that expectation because we’ve got the most money and the most players.” WHAT MOOD ARE THE FANS IN ULTRA-CONFIDENT! England supporters, as usual, expect the Red Rose to run away with the European title and hone in on a Grand Slam. POINT TO PROVE: JONATHAN JOSEPH THE centre went on last year’s Lions tour of New Zealand with high hopes of featuring in the Test series, but failed to make an impact. DID YOU KNOW ENGLAND are bidding to become the first country to win three Six Nations titles in a row. BOOKIES PREDICTION ENGLAND are odds-on favourites with bookmakers, being even money at many outlets for the title and as low as 2/1 to win a Grand Slam. WHAT WE SAY CHAMPIONS: England’s pedigree, strength in depth and a fixture list which has Wales and Ireland heading to Twickenham, could see them make history by winning a third title on the bounce.