Mental strength key to success, says Haskell
FORMER England flanker James Haskell believes international teams should work more on their mental strength to gain a cutting edge in Test rugby.
Haskell, 37, who retired in 2019 after making 77 England appearances, feels the current top 10 Test teams have very little between them, so focusing on mental wellbeing could make the difference at the top level.
He said: “Each international team is ticking every box; whether that’s fitness, health, diet, recovery – the last bit that’s untapped is the mental health and personal development area which is what I think will make the difference. Everything else is levelled out, you can’t tell if one side is drastically fitter than the other. The game plans and tactics are all the same, so the biggest difference is the mental side and that’s often where games are won and lost.”
England lost their fourth opening game of the Six Nations in a row and their third straight to Scotland as Steve Borthwick began his tenure as head coach with a 29-23 loss in the Calcutta Cup last weekend. It followed a dismal autumn that saw Eddie Jones sacked following the defeat to South Africa which left England with just five wins from 13 in 2022.
However, Haskell, right, feels with a strong player pool that there’s plenty for England to be positive about.
He said: “I don’t think there are massive issues facing this England team, I thought even under Eddie they were only four or five per cent off. Borthwick’s comments were probably accurate in saying that to be at the top of the game you need to be the best in the world in a couple of things and I don’t think England are.
“The set piece isn’t where it needs to be, defensively there were three lapses which cost them but all the fundamentals are there and I don’t think it’s catastrophic.
“England were leading for parts of the game against a settled Scotland squad while playing with different combinations. I think everyone needs to stay positive, there’s great coaching staff in place and we just need some tweaks in selection.
“Everyone’s bogged down by the (Marcus) Smith, (Owen) Farrell axis but I don’t think that’s got anything to do with it. Defensively Kevin Sinfield’s come in and put in a new system and the most disappointing thing was when Duhan (van Der Merwe) was able to get through and why it was so easy, but that comes in time, trust and getting it right.”
Although the Premiership regularly has basketball scorelines and tends to be a much faster end-to-end style of rugby in comparison with Test level, former Wasps star Haskell feels the top flight still prepares players well for international rugby but believes the decline in the quality of the Champions Cup is hindering players adjusting to the international game.
He said: “I think the Premiership always did prepare you and I think it prepares you now. The issue is there’s a bigger gulf than there’s ever been.
“What used to be a real test was a stronger Europe. Those games against the Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and French sides in particular would always test you and have a level of intensity to them. Some games do but others don’t, so Europe is a poor shadow of what it used to be which isn’t helping.
“The Premiership is tough and attritional, and anyone can beat anyone now. Some players have got up to international training and found a big deficit, whether that’s fitness levels, positional play, dropping balls under pressure or defensive work. I think that happens more and more these days where the superstars in the Premiership don’t cut it at the top level of the international game.”
Haskell stresses that there needs to be a correct balance in the back row three players and is vouching for Saracens flanker Ben Earl to start.
He added: “The back row is about complementary skills, numbers are slightly irrelevant. I think the team that started last week – Alex Dombrandt, Ben Curry and Lewis Ludlam complement each other well. Dombrandt had a quieter game than usual, he wasn’t given the opportunities but is someone who can cause the opposition problems.
“The first player I put in my back row is Ben Earl as he’s been playing really well and looked good when he came on. I’d go with Ben Earl, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Dombrandt with Jack Willis on the bench to come on and bring real energy.”