Watson: We can outrun Pacific flyers
ENGLAND may be about to face some of the most spontaneously dangerous attacking players in the world, but they are convinced they have the firepower to play Fiji at their own game. The opening fixture of this World Cup is widely seen as a culture clash between English muscle and Polynesian flair. But that doesn’t take into account the cutting edge demonstrated by Stuart Lancaster’s national team of late.
Since the start of the last autumn campaign, England have been outscored on tries in only two of their 12 Tests. Anthony Watson and, more recently, Jonny May have enhanced the side’s finishing quality and delivered more tries as a result of sweeping back-line moves.
So while England are aware of the game-breaking threat posed by the likes of Fiji’s giant wing Nemani Nadolo and Leicester centre Vereniki Goneva, Lancaster can deploy lethal weapons in wide areas, too. Asked if England can match their opponents attacking prowess, Watson said: ‘Yes, I think so. Having Brownie at the back with his counter-attacking ability, I think we’ve shown in the warm-up games that no defence can switch off against us either.
‘We would like to think we can punish them from all areas of the pitch. While Fiji are always looking to do that, we pick and choose our moments when it’s on. And if it is on I hope we can take advantage.
‘Our attacking game has come on massively. Every time we’ve got together as backs since the Six Nations our confidence has gone up and up and up.’
All the pre-match focus has been on the mountainous task facing Watson in trying to contain his direct opponent, the near 20st Nadolo.
But the Bath wing’s quick- step finish against France last month showed his own one- on- one threat and he is confident he can trouble his towering rival.
‘I’ve done my homework on him and I’ve got a few things that if the opportunity comes, I can try to implement,’ he said. ‘If my opportunity comes I’ll try to take it with both hands.’
England’s predatory wings will expect more ammunition from the creative colleagues infield, primarily George Ford at No 10. Bath’s prodigious fly-half said: ‘We’ve worked hard as a team to try to get a bit more width to our attack and to try to create more opportunities. ‘The wingers are finishing brilliantly but the boys inside them, JJ (Jonathan Joseph) and Brad (Barritt), are giving them the ball in enough space to do what they do. In a one-on-one situation they are pretty lethal.’
Ford’s final preparations for tomorrow night’s game — and those of his fellow England stand- off, Owen Farrell — will be hampered by the World Cup opening ceremony, which will interrupt their normal pre-match routine.
To help adapt to the disruption, the pair will take part in a practice process more associated with cricket — an indoor net session. ‘We have some walk-throughs at the hotel at 2.30 and I’ll do some kicking then,’ said Ford. ‘There’s a kicking net in the changing-room which you can use and get a few strikes into the net, which is helpful. ‘They have manipulated a bit of time for us during the team warm-up, so we can have two of three shots at goal then. ‘We’re not too frustrated about it. We’re confident we’ve done enough work so it is not going to affect us. We usually go out about an hour before kick-off, then the team go out about half an hour before. ‘We’ll kick out of hand, kick for goal and practise kick-offs. We do have a set routine which we are going to have to manipulate a bit but we’re OK. We won’t be rushed at all. We’ll just get on with it.’