England braced for impact with title ambitions at stake
Underhill will harness Calcutta Cup pressure Bench could be crucial, but plan has risk factor
The storm clouds are gathering over Murrayfield today and England have been left in no doubt what is coming their way. Forecasts of 60mph winds, driving rain and perhaps even snow in Edinburgh as Storm Ciara hits the Scottish capital would appear to be the least of the concerns for Eddie Jones’s side.
This may be only the second round of the Guinness Six Nations Championship, but England’s title hopes are already on the line following their surprise 24-17 defeat in Paris last Sunday.
Of equal import is the need for a performance to show they have moved on from the World Cup final loss to South Africa. There appeared to be a hangover from that defeat at the Stade de France, but the Six Nations is a harsh place for those who indulge in navel-gazing.
A third successive defeat would undermine Jones’s attempts to press the restart button at the beginning of a new World Cup cycle, though his contract runs until 2021.
It was a defeat at Murrayfield two years ago that sent England into such a tailspin that they lost their next five games. If they are to build on the positives of their World Cup campaign, including the manner of victory over New Zealand, they cannot afford another losing streak.
“For us the pressure is on, which is something you can ignore and try to play down or something you can embrace,” said England flanker Sam Underhill, who revealed he has a Scottish grandmother. The fact it happens to be a Calcutta Cup is probably even better for us because there’s more pressure and ultimately that’s something you need to perform at your best.”
Yet Scotland find themselves in the same must-win position following their 19-12 loss to Ireland, pushing the stakes higher still.
And after a week filled with hotair joshing, and talk of hatred between the sides, the presence of Josh Taylor, the Scottish world champion boxer known as the “Tartan Tornado” in the Scotland camp yesterday only underscored the intensity of the physical challenge that awaits England.
The players have spoken of an extra edge in training this week. Jones conceded he had got the preparation wrong in the build-up to the France game by adopting a softly-softly approach, given the extraordinary workload this season. Wednesday’s session, in contrast, was said to have been one of the most physical of Jones’s tenure.
“It was just a really good blast out and that’s exactly what the boys wanted,” said Jonny May, the England wing whose two second-half tries at the Stade de France inspired a late but unsuccessful resurgence.
“You know what it’s like, when you go for a big gym session and you want to go and blast it – ‘That was a good session, we’re ready go again now’.”
To go again England have gone back to basics. Of five changes, three have come in the pack, with Mako Vunipola, George Kruis and Lewis Ludlam tasked with bolstering their ball-carrying ability and breakdown impact.
Stacking the bench with six forwards is laced with risk, given the potential for injuries to the back line, but England have identified that to stop Scotland you must stop their ability to recycle quick ball.
The ability to introduce six forwards midway through the second half worked for South Africa in the World Cup. Jones is hoping for a similarly brutal impact as his side seek to win the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2017.
Scotland, though, have addressed many of the issues that undermined their World Cup campaign. Even without Finn Russell at fly-half, as his dispute with head coach Gregor Townsend continues, Adam Hastings has the ability to pose questions of England’s back three.
Magnus Bradbury will add to the physicality of Scotland’s back row and his contest with fledgling No8 Tom Curry will be fascinating.
Yet one senses the victors today will be the side who cope best not just with conditions but also the pressure and chaos of the occasion.
“[Two years ago] I was on the bench, it was one of my first caps and my first experience here at Murrayfield,” Underhill said. “It was probably my first insight into the emotion of the occasion. It’s definitely something to acknowledge and it’s definitely there – you can’t ignore it – especially when it’s as loud as Murrayfield is.”
Yes, Ciara will not be the only storm in town today.