«ENGLAND ON A KNIFE EDGE AS JONES FACES CRUNCH WALES CLASH
Lose against resurgent Wales and reputation of Jones and his key men will be in tatters
THIS one is a ‘makeor-break’ game, according to Eddie Jones. Well, it certainly is for his England team. Their Six Nations campaign is on a knife edge in Cardiff today.
The head coach was asked earlier in the week who would be under greater pressure at the Principality Stadium, in what promises to be yet another cross-border close encounter.
‘Good question,’ he said. ‘I think both teams face similar pressure.’
It was a telling response from someone who would never waste an opportunity to turn up the heat on opponents. Jones knows the score. This fixture won’t break the Welsh championship challenge, following victories over Ireland and Scotland, but England have no room left for manoeuvre.
Lose again and their title defence is in ruins. Not only that, they would be forced back to the drawing board ahead of a clash with France — both rested and dangerous — at Twickenham on March 13.
So the stakes are sky-high for the visitors today. It is time for the reprieved men to deliver. Captain Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly and Billy Vunipola have been retained in the starting XV on reputation alone, and that is not a viable long-term arrangement.
England cannot afford the luxury of carrying passengers, especially given the sheer scale of talent being overlooked in the domestic game.
Today, the Saracens trio must rise to the heights again or Jones may begin to doubt his loyalty policy. The younger Vunipola and his brother Mako need to provide vital English momentum over the gainline — aided by the likes of Kyle Sinckler and Maro Itoje — while Farrell and Daly must play their part in showing a revived grasp of the attacking basics which England have struggled with of late. One unusual feature of the build-up was some unexpected sledging from a cricketing knight of the realm. Sir Ian Botham, whose grandson James is a back-row replacement for Wales today, told the BBC that England don’t have the look of a ‘happy camp’. Of course, his remark brought a predictably dismissive response from within the England bubble. However, the best way to make a mockery of the claim would be to deliver a joyously-compelling, exuberant performance on the way to a vital victory. Yet, part of England’s task will be to defy the sense of a shift in the balance of power between these fierce rivals. So much has changed since Farrell and Co won a stodgy game in Llanelli 24-13 during the ultranegative Autumn Nations Cup. At that time, Wales coach Wayne Pivac was under mounting pressure and his side ended the year with only three wins — two against Italy and one against Georgia — from the ten Tests they played.
Now, aided by a red card apiece for Ireland and Scotland in their Six Nations games, Wales are reinforced and transformed. They have a shot at the title and perhaps even a Grand Slam.
There are so many contributory factors, such as the electrifying emergence of Louis Rees-Zammit on the wing, the return of Ken Owens at hooker and the vintage form of Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau in the back row.
Loosehead prop Wyn Jones has been one of the stand-out performers in the championship to date — surely pushing himself into Lions contention — and Gethin Jenkins has worked wonders shoring up the Welsh defence.
England coach Jones praised Wales this week while noting they have reverted to a game-plan based more on power and kicking.
He didn’t go the whole hog and use the dreaded term ‘Warrenball’, in reference to Pivac’s predecessor Warren Gatland, but he might as well have done. Yet Wales also have plenty of pace, guile and predatory instinct. These are provided by Liam Williams at full-back, Josh Adams returning on the wing with a point to prove and Jon ‘Fox’ Davies joining forces with George North, who has his mojo back as he reaches his Test century.
Josh Navidi will give the hosts even more breakdown clout and defensive force. They appear to have found real balance, with an ability to compete in either an arm-wrestle or a fast-and-loose contest.
England are clear favourites with the bookmakers, but it is hard to justify that status and identify
areas where they hold all the aces. Since the World Cup, they have integrated a handful of new players but there has not been an overall sense of progress.
They are trying to expand their repertoire but early efforts have been mechanical and largely unconvincing.
A senior core of the team have been operating a long way below their peak. The midfield strategy — such as there is one, other than to accommodate Farrell — remains unclear after Ollie Lawrence was promoted, underused, then unceremoniously ditched. Scotland’s historic victory at Twickenham this month showed again how England struggle to solve problems when their pack is not utterly dominant.
Today, they will hope for an edge in the set-piece but that is by no means guaranteed, so there will have to be a willingness to adapt on the hoof.
Both teams have vast experience and Wales, led by the wily Alun Wyn Jones, are routinely acclaimed as ‘streetwise’. In contrast, England appear to possess ample knowhow — in terms of having several stellar names in their ranks — but more evidence is needed that they are not overly reliant on guidance from the touchline.
Asked for his view of this neighbourly rivalry, coach Jones said: ‘They are tight contests that go down to the wire.’
That is the likely scenario today but Wales have a big chance. If they take it, England will be forced to address problems and the urgent changes which they need to make.
It is indeed make-or-break time.