THE TEST! Eddie’s ready to lead Lions to next level
EDDIE JONES says he will be using today’s Six Nations clash with Italy as a test run for the high-octane rugby England want to play at next year’s World Cup.
There are dangers for a team in taking their eye off the immediate ball and England’s shock first defeat against Italy at Under-20s level on Friday night underlined them.
But while the England coach’s first priority for his side in Rome is to haul themselves back into the Six Nations title picture after the Calcutta Cup defeat, he has no qualms in pursuing the big picture.
“It is about developing a new England side we want to equip for the next World Cup,” said Jones.
“The World Cup in France is reasonably unique because you are going to be playing the majority of the pool games up to the quarterfinal on fast, open pitches.
“So to progress to the last four you are going to need to have a very good attacking game.
“Once you get to Stade de France things tighten up a bit, the ball is always moist, the ground is always slower, it is quite a heavy surface and it becomes more attritional.
“We need to be able to play the old England way and the new England way. And what we are trying to develop is this new England way of playing which is about being aggressive, about taking opportunities as they avail themselves and getting on the front foot against the opposition.”
The direct responsibility for that transformation as chief engineer falls to attack coach Martin Gleeson (right) who is in his first Six Nations since coming in through Jones’ revolving door of assistants.
The former Great Britain rugby league star was instrumental in making Wasps one of the Premiership’s most potent offensive sides and is charged with carrying out the same upgrade for England.
“We want to play a hightempo game. We want to play fast when we are in the right areas and we want to take our opportunities,” said Gleeson.
“Italy can cause problems at the breakdown and in the aerial battle so they are a team that we are not taking lightly but we’re really clear on how we want to play and everyone is excited about the game.
“We did a lot of things well against Scotland in terms of creating opportunities but we just didn’t take them as well as maybe we should have done and that’s the area we have really focused on getting ourselves better all through this week.”
The inclusion of Bristol’s will-o’the-wisp scrum-half Harry Randall should help bring extra pace to England’s attack.
“I think he will definitely add to our attacking threats,” said Jones. While an England victory is as much of a given as there is in top-level international sport, the slip at Murrayfield has made a four-try bonus point essential too in terms of the title shake-up. England have racked up a bonus point in their last eight meetings in the championship but Jones says it has not been specifically targeted today. He said: “If we play really well and remain focused we’ll get the bonus point.”