TIME TO FEEL THE NOIZE
Guscott wants Slade to rock the main stage
HENRY SLADE has been urged by England legend Jeremy Guscott to “find his voice” and light up the Six Nations.
Rugby’s annual showpiece is back, Scotland are at Twickenham and for the next six weeks the sport takes centre stage in the calendar.
The hope is that it will lift spirits and flagging morale across a continent suffering under lockdown restrictions.
But the fear is that if the entertainment value mirrors that served up in the kickand-clap Autumn Nations Cup, then it could prove a turn-off.
The stakes are high for what potentially is the last Six Nations to be shown entirely on free-to-air TV.
Eddie Jones’ priority is to keep England winning, as they have during the last two tournaments played against the backdrop of Covid and empty stadiums.
But Slade has an opportunity to inject a wow factor and transform the mundane into the memorable.
“I’m waiting for Henry to absolutely flourish,” said Guscott, dubbed England’s ‘Prince of centres’ during 10 years at the top of the world game.
“It’s a position I know pretty well and he has all the attributes, the complete skill set. It’s whether his voice is big enough.”
Guscott’s concern is that because Owen Farrell is such a dominant figure on and off the pitch that the likes of Slade, Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson do not wield the influence they should.
“They have to get on his case,” added the BBC pundit ahead of a Calcutta Cup fixture that England have not lost at home since 1983.
“Henry needs the ball in his hands more. I want him making breaks and committing players because I’m yet to see him have the impact for England he does at club level.
“He has the ability to be player of the tournament but has to make his presence felt more and be dominant as a fly-half.”
The selection at inside-centre of Ollie Lawrence, a hard-runner in the Manu
Tuilagi mould, suggests England at least intend to marry power and flair on the 150th anniversary of rugby’s oldest fixture.
Attack coach Simon Amor said: “We are a team that really wants to go at the opposition, to take them on physically and tactically and dominate them.
“But ultimately it’s about us creating space and then having the mindset to take our opportunities.”
Guscott looks at England under Jones and sees “more heavy duty, carnage-creating, ball-carrying” potential than any other side.
“Add in the subs they bring on,” he said, “and it’s an unrelenting, carrying battering ram.”
FOLLOW the Six Nations across BBC One, BBC iplayer and BBC Radio 5 Live. Wales v Ireland is on BBC One and BBC iplayer tomorrow from 2pm.