TIRESOME ENGLAND BADLY NEED RESET
ITALY at home is less of a Test match than a tough training session and I expect England to win by at least 40 points but today is about much more than a result.
This game needs to signal the start of a change of direction for England which sees them escape the negative kick-first mindset they have fallen into and use the talent they have in the side.
Last week’s showing against Scotland was so disappointing. England were tiresome to watch.
Maybe England needed that result. The cracks have been papered over for some time by victories but they were laid bare in defeat.
If I had been playing at Twickenham last week I would have been going mad as an outside back. Anthony Watson, Jonny May and Elliot Daly might as well have been on the bench.
England will be traumatised by the stats. Fifteen penalties conceded, most of them in the opening half hour, 29 missed tackles and the most damning one of all – no line breaks. None. That is unheard of.
Brute force and kicking only take you so far. England have become so one-dimensional.
They are so easy to defend against. If you know a kick is coming you have men in the backfield waiting to receive it.
Look at the way France operate. They have power up front and a kicking game but they also have variety. Ireland will be asked questions all over the field in Dublin tomorrow because with Antoine Dupont at scrumhalf you never know what he is going to do next. That will be a compelling game, Scotland against Wales – a real coin toss – will be too. England against Italy not so much.
But I want to see England rediscover their mojo today. I want to see them excited. Only 15 months ago they were producing the best England performance I’ve ever seen in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand and these are pretty much the same players.
England are playing within themselves. I just want to see them play. Keep hold of the ball. Look up. Make Italy defend. Stretch them. Stress them. Be creative.
England have the skills through their side too so let’s see them being used. It’s time for a reset.
Keep hold of the ball. Stretch Italy. Stress them