SPICE IT UP
Sinckler and Curry have been stars but if England want to rule the world Eddie Jones has got to...
TWO sets of mouth-watering matches to go, it is time to throw away the defensive shackles. I’ve loved the sense of occasion that each round of the Six Nations brings, however I am slightly disappointed in the performances on the field so far.
I want a northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup and so far nobody has strung together three games to scare New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Overall quality has not quite been there. But there is time to rectify that. Here is how I see the state of the nations. ENGLAND came flying out of the blocks, though they were exposed by Wales. But forget that result, there have been big steps forward.
Kyle Sinckler and Tom Curry are two huge positives, both nailing down their places in positions that were previously wide open.
At full strength the England team picks itself, with maybe the exception of Mark Wilson at blind-side flanker. England have found their World Cup-winning team with Anthony Watson the only player who might break in.
The positives far outweigh the negatives, however there are negatives.
First, the story about England’s bench is confusing things. No World Cup-winning side has been based on the strength of the bench — the starting XV counts. In 2003, half of our starting team would have got into any other side, and this England team are getting into that position.
The spine of the England team — Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje, Billy Vunipola, Owen Farrell, Elliot daly and Jonny May — will take some beating.
As I have said many times before I don’t like the term ‘finishers’ for the bench — it’s a dangerous label that devalues the starting team.
England have a starting team that can win the World Cup, but I don’t think they have as strong a bench as they think.
I can’t think of one player who should come off for a substitute — and if bench players are better than the starters, then start them! This is my biggest question over Eddie Jones’s approach.
The starting team is world-class, but you take Mako Vunipola and Itoje out, there is a big drop-off.
Eddie must go into the big games at the World Cup intending to keep all the starters on the pitch unless there are injuries, a player is having nightmare, or you want to change the game-plan tactically.
Second, the Welsh defeat exposed England’s lack of attacking ambition.
It was one of the worst tactical games England have produced for a long time. England have to really shape up and focus far more on attack.
Against Wales they had one plan, and that was to kick it away.
They have to become far more fluent. The team that wins the World Cup will score the most tries, so England should not just focus on defending.
Ideally the players recognise what is going wrong and change the tactics, without relying on the coaches on game day. I was surprised they could not alter their approach against Wales.
England have the team, but now need the tactics and attacking mindset to match in each game.