Forget all about flair and style in the first game... just win it!
ICOACHED England in seven Championship campaigns and the only thing that matters in the opening game of the Six Nations is to get a win — by a penalty or drop kick, with the last play of the game if need be. It’s that desire and urgency that makes the first round of the Championship one of the most fascinating rugby weekends in the calendar. Win and you are on the front foot dreaming big. Lose and your campaign is already in trouble. It takes an exceptional coach and group of players to recover. Which is why nobody should go expecting fireworks from England in Rome on Sunday. Italy is the game that the other nations have as their banker. Since the introduction of bonus points, it is a side they need to ‘cash in’ against. This year, Scotland play in Rome on the final Saturday and there is a scenario where they might need to run riot and not only secure the try bonus, but pile up as big a points difference as possible. But, first up, England cannot afford to think like that. I fully expect Italy to produce their best performance of the Championship against England. There has been a ruggedness about Benetton and Zebre for most of the season that suggests Italy won’t go easily. They won’t win but England must concentrate 100 per cent on securing the victory. Get that win and then it’s back to Twickenham and Wales. Win that and England are flying. Warren Gatland and Gregor Townsend will be thinking similar thoughts in Cardiff — and Jacques Brunel and Joe Schmidt likewise in Paris. Fine words being spoken about attacking rugby will count for nothing if their sides lose. Wales-Scotland is a 50-50 game which, from a Scottish stance, are the best odds you are going to get in Cardiff.
WHEN is rugby going to referee all its big games by the same set of laws? Eddie Jones — and all the other coaches — was talking to the referees this week about how he wants the ball put in straight to ensure a proper scrummaging contest — and his concern about how many teams are getting away with murder defending driving mauls. Eddie’s right on both counts but that’s not the point. Why does rugby allow itself to have this debate about the laws and their interpretation before every big tournament? It’s ludicrous. It can even be viewed as questioning not only the ability of the referee but also his impartiality. The laws are the laws. They should be refereed the same whether it’s at Premiership level or the Six Nations. Interpretation should be at a minimum as should the whims of certain officials. The single most important factor holding back rugby from being a truly global game are the over-complicated laws which then allow referees to put their own slant on a game.