There are weeks when the art of choosing becomes more about psychology than anything else. Put the data aside for a moment and think about the players the opponent would least like to face. How can you make your own team more optimistic and less affected by negativity? And while doing this, will you create an extra wave of excitement in your fans’ feathers when they see the team jersey?
So let’s buckle down and think about what embattled England should do next, ahead of the penultimate weekend of the Six Nations. Their last two games will be against Ireland and France, and considering the problems in the French camp, it is time to change the mood at Twickenham. Just sticking to what you’ve done so far won’t be enough.
So let’s get rid of corruption. Enough of the negative predictions and odds making punters cringe. Forget Scotland, the disappointment of Murrayfield and Ireland’s unbeatable reputation. The only thing that matters now is the next challenge for Steve Borthwick and his team. And ideally, to give Twickenham its collective voice back, which is a little worried.
Relating to: Danny Care’s contribution to England praised as caps century approaches
Let’s start with the blindingly obvious. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of English rugby – and yes it is still a crowded field – is its inability to piece together a more uplifting whole from the various existing parts. Sometimes you wonder what would happen if minds were somehow less distracted and every match was treated like a case of sudden death. Perform now or rest in peace forever.
So who would you choose to save your life this weekend? For the UK, the answer for now is still Joe Marler And Dan Colewith JamieGeorge We complete the front row. Everything flows from there and no one is remotely suggesting that the experienced trio won’t be able to hold their own against Ireland at home. Remember, it’s all about the here and now, not some vague point on a distant horizon.
Certainly Ireland are well placed in second place, with fast-rising Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne a potential starting combo in the Test Lions. So, are we really saying that England are out of the running when it comes to scrum and lineout? HE Maro Itoje Broken flush or giant? george martin Isn’t it a serious unit? Maybe that’s Borthwick’s team pitch.
Shift Ollie Chess On the blind side of the attack and – bingo – England also have another high-seed option in an area where Ireland had some trouble against Wales. This brings us to important areas such as the back row, midfield and midfield. For whatever reason, England have been worried about numbers 7 to 13 for years. The balance rarely felt optimal, good players got injured at untimely moments, and as a result the team only fired occasionally.
So who would the Irish back row potentially least want to play against in the absence of the unavailable Tom Curry? Exhibit A is England’s autumn nations championship win against Ireland in 2020, where England made a remarkable 246 tackles (missing just nine) to confound Ireland’s superior territory and possession percentages. Sam Underhill It was a big deal then, and it can be a big deal again.
Number 8 remains. It would be great to release Alfie Barbeary or the similarly motivated Zach Mercer, but neither could make a larger roster. Then again, Ben Earl‘s pace away from the baseline was key to England’s first try against Scotland, and his “little win” micro celebrations had previously hurt Ireland. Pick him again, tell him to go out and leave the perfect Caelan Doris behind, and see what happens.
A greater creative spark in England’s backline will be required, as well as some physical thunder. As included in the UK Alex Mitchell And Marcus Smith It must be assumed that both are fully fit in their squad for this match. If so, they start together Manu Tuilagi 12, because none of them are found in Scotland, and all of them can ask proactive questions about their opposite numbers.
The rest is again a matter of balance. Henry Slade He may not have developed as a 13-year-old in Scotland, but he and Tuilagi love playing together and Slade’s developing left boot offers both Smiths an extra outlet. This reduces the need for Elliot Daly’s versatility and leaves the door ajar for exciting experiences. Manny Feyi-Waboso.
Who is more likely to think of Duhan van der Merwe’s opportunistic tries at Murrayfield: Feyi-Waboso or Daly? It’s time to try the first one with Calvin Nash and invite him. Tommy Freeman To get stuck into James Lowe. By the way, there is no point in choosing a full-back position. George Furbank and then summarily abandoned him.
When he is at his best, Furbank can be the all-round impact that Hugo Keenan became for Ireland. He will also take the game to Ireland rather than sit back and wait for visiting mistakes. Recent history shows that their number will be small.
Bench? Chandler Cunningham-South is just a fly away from starting, and who better to rage against the green machine in theory than Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ellis Genge? The sight of Danny Care sprinting towards his 100th cap was also guaranteed to lift the home support from behind in their red trousers. Is he good enough to topple the Six Nations favourites? Maybe not, but at least Twickenham can put on a truly exciting contest.
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