It’s vital England fix defence before World Cup looms

The Six Nations title decider comes early this season in round two but it is not happening at Twickenham.

Ireland v France today is a head-tohead between the two best sides in the championship – and the game that will decide where the trophy is going.

For England, starting out under Steve Borthwick, below, it is not about the title race but shaping something coherent for the World Cup later this year.

He has precious little time and, as last week’s home defeat by Scotland showed, the new head coach has a lot to work on.

The most worrying aspect for me was the defence.

You can play all the fast rugby you like – and England did create a couple of nice tries – but if the back door is not bolted you are in trouble.

Leaking four tries at home to Scotland was inexcusable and defence coach, Kevin Sinfield, will be demanding a big improvement against Italy tomorrow.

There will need to be because this Italian side, while still the weakest team in the championship, can score tries.

There was a lot of talk about bedding in Sinfield’s new defensive system after the game last week.

But the most important aspect of any system is the trust you have in the players around you.

If you are flying in to make someone else’s tackle because you are not sure they are going to, then the system is going to break down.

The England side I played in had such a degree of familiarity with each other that we knew instinctively what our team-mates would do – and where they would be.

This England side is clearly not at that level yet.

I expect them to be better for an extra week together.

But they will need to be because Italy played very well against France last weekend and came within a score of beating the defending champions.

It was not a fluke. They were right there with the French.

Luca Morisi, the Italy centre, gives his side a 30 percent chance of beating England for the first time and, while I do not think that will happen, this game is not a gimme. England need a concerted stride forward at Twickenham in performance if it is not to be uncomfortable.

I cannot think of a single England player who jumped off the page in week one, save for maybe Max Malins, so something better all-round is needed.

New regime or not, there are certain non-negotiables for an England side, and five points at home against Italy is one of them.

I fancy Scotland to back up their Calcutta Cup victory at home to Wales today, and start the championship with two wins for the first time since 1996.

As for the big game, what a tussle that should be.

France will be better this week – they will have been on the receiving end of a rocket and a half from Shaun Edwards – but I see a high-quality match going Ireland’s way in Dublin.