Italy vs England - Sunday 3pm

[Banquo]

Realistically how do you just ‘move on’ from players like Launchbury, Underhill, Watson, Manu etc? Keep picking Atkinson and Ewels for example, even when Launchbury and Manu are fit and obviously far better players?

well yes, but its a fair point that being clearly so reliant on one sick note presents challenges. Wilkinson makes an interesting case study....
But was interested in how folks would treat some players differently to others; answer is obvious I guess.

[twitchy]

Eddie Jones believes the inside centre position will be “crucial” for England over the next two years, and admits that he cannot rely on Manu Tuilagi’s explosive running to underpin his midfield.

Jones has also predicted that the 2023 World Cup in France will be characterised by attacking rugby, and is eager for a “ruthless” performance against Italy in Rome to right his team’s Six Nations campaign.

Before last Saturday’s 20-17 loss at Murrayfield, Jones suggested that Scotland were two years ahead of England in their development as a side. To make up that deficit, he explained on Friday lunchtime, attacking improvements will be a priority.

“It is about developing a new England side that we want to equip to win the World Cup,” Jones said. “The World Cup in France is reasonably unique because you are going to be playing the majority of the pool games and up to the quarter-final on fast, open pitches.

“I think, to progress to the last four, you are going to need to have a very good attacking game. Once you get to Stade de France [where the semi-finals and final are to be played], things tighten up a bit. The ball is always moist, the ground is always slower. It is a heavy surface and it becomes more attritional.

“We need to be able to play the old England way and the new England way. And what we are trying to develop is this new England way of playing and finding the players to play it. It is about being aggressive, about taking opportunities as they avail themselves and getting on the front foot against the opposition.”

New England, the concept devised by Jones last year, has clearly encouraged the emergence of young players while granting greater responsibility to more established names. For instance, only two players have started all seven Test matches since the 2021 Six Nations. Those are Freddie Steward and Henry Slade.

The latter has assumed a variety of positions, even featuring as a makeshift full-back against Australia in November, yet has become a prominent playmaker while being promoted to the post of vice-captain.

The meeting with Italy marks Slade’s second consecutive start at inside centre, although the 28 year-old produced an influential display there for the majority of the autumn win over South Africa following Tuilagi’s early injury.




Tuilagi has returned to fitness, but Jones knows he must make alternative arrangements in midfield in the absence of another “real gainline runner”.

“There is no doubt that 12 is crucial to us,” Jones said. “In a good attacking team, the ability of your 10 and 12 to be able to get the ball into the required areas of their defence is crucial.

“You want a 12 who can carry, who can kick and who can run. Particularly as Marcus keeps his development at 10, [we need] a 12 who takes some of the organisational responsibility away from Marcus.”

“[Inside centre] is a significant player, not significant by size - we don’t have any of those players in England, I think we all know that,” he added.

“The only real gainline runner we have got in the backs in England is Manu and we don’t know about his availability given his track record with injury. But, definitely, they are an influential player for us.”

Dan Kelly, outstanding for Leicester Tigers against Northampton Saints on Friday evening, Ollie Lawrence, Owen Farrell and Tuilagi have also worn the No 12 jersey for England since the last Six Nations. Mark Atkinson of Gloucester appeared as a replacement against Tonga three months ago, but has not been named in a matchday squad since.

Given Farrell will miss the entire Six Nations, it would seem that Slade, alongside Joe Marchant against Italy, has a chance to underline his ability to lead England’s attack over the next two years.

Jones also paid tribute to the mental and physical “resilience” of scrum-half Ben Youngs, who will draw level with Jason Leonard’s record tally of 114 England caps if he replaces Harry Randall. Youngs’ brother, Tom, has been indefinitely stood down by his club, Leicester, while his wife, Tiffany, battles illness.

“It has been unbelievable as a half-back to play that many Test matches,” Jones said of Ben Youngs. “Firstly, it’s a testament to his durability and his resilience, because like any player he’s had his injuries and he’s had to keep fighting. You put that alongside some of the family difficulties he’s had and his ability to compartmentalise and focus on his rugby and keep improving his game.

“He’s got two young guys snapping at his heels at the moment in Raffi Quirke and Harry Randall and what has really delighted me, particularly in the autumn and now, is the way he has embraced the challenge of being a senior player.

“On Thursday he was out early in the morning doing box-kicking with Harry Randall and that is the sign of a really good senior player. At that stage they didn’t know who was starting and who was finishing. That shows how much England means to him.”

[Oakboy]

At this point, looking forward to the RWC, assuming everyone is fit, I wonder what Jones's projected 1st choice XV is. Might it be:

Genge, LCD, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes, Underhill, Curry, Youngs, Smith, May, Farrell, Slade, Watson, Steward

Assuming it is something like that, how many can force their way in over the coming months? That question encompasses most of my interest in today's game and the rest of the 6N.

[Danno]

Guess I won't watch the build up then...

[Which Tyler]

Guess I won't watch the build up then...

I turned over just as SCW was saying "Smith's the best FH in rugby since Jonny"

I switched back to the Simpsons.

[p/d]

Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a perfect alternative

[FKAS]

Great to hear the England Tigers section bringing the noise for the anthem. Steward and Chessum in particular seems to be seeing who could bellow it loudest.

[FKAS]

England errors are already plentiful. Even the decision making so far has been iffy with Slade popping Genge into four waiting tacklers instead of going out the back to an overlap.

[switchskier]

Malins looked plenty quick enough over the first three meters there, and that's what matters most I reckon. Good try for England after an error strewn start

[Galfon]

Smith involved alot.
Good score, brainless fumbling straight after by the big boys unfortunately.
Nowell's scrapping will be more than useful today.

[Stom]

I feel like two players aren’t at the same level today, and neither are Ewels.

Genge can’t hold anything and Malins is full of mistakes.

Otherwise, not too bad, imo.

[FKAS]

I feel like most of the players aren't at the races today. Smith is still dithering on the ball before the pass though thankfully not as much as he did last week. No one seems to be able to hold anything reliably. Randall aimless kick to touch on the full.

Italy look poor. When England don't make mistakes then it's pretty easy and we score. England are basically playing themselves.

One change I do like is that Steward is coming from deep into the line again. A tactic we had joy with in the AIs but didn't use last weekend.

[Banquo]

I feel like most of the players aren't at the races today. Smith is still dithering on the ball before the pass though thankfully not as much as he did last week. No one seems to be able to hold anything reliably. Randall aimless kick to touch on the full.

Italy look poor. When England don't make mistakes then it's pretty easy and we score. England are basically playing themselves.

One change I do like is that Steward is coming from deep into the line again. A tactic we had joy with in the AIs but didn't use last weekend.

maybe cos there arent 3 playing centre. Said it a few times

[Banquo]

forwards struggling with width- in fact look a bit leggy already

[FKAS]

I feel like most of the players aren't at the races today. Smith is still dithering on the ball before the pass though thankfully not as much as he did last week. No one seems to be able to hold anything reliably. Randall aimless kick to touch on the full.

Italy look poor. When England don't make mistakes then it's pretty easy and we score. England are basically playing themselves.

One change I do like is that Steward is coming from deep into the line again. A tactic we had joy with in the AIs but didn't use last weekend.

maybe cos there arent 3 playing centre. Said it a few times

We played three centres in the AIs and Steward came into the line from deep notably in both the Australia and South Africa games. I think it was more of a tactic to sit him deep at all times in case of turnover and quick transition by Scotland last weekend.

[Galfon]

Ita doing an Eng and conceding pens.left right & centre.
Refs whistle star for Eng atm.

[Banquo]

I feel like most of the players aren't at the races today. Smith is still dithering on the ball before the pass though thankfully not as much as he did last week. No one seems to be able to hold anything reliably. Randall aimless kick to touch on the full.

Italy look poor. When England don't make mistakes then it's pretty easy and we score. England are basically playing themselves.

One change I do like is that Steward is coming from deep into the line again. A tactic we had joy with in the AIs but didn't use last weekend.

maybe cos there arent 3 playing centre. Said it a few times

We played three centres in the AIs and Steward came into the line from deep notably in both the Australia and South Africa games. I think it was more of a tactic to sit him deep at all times in case of turnover and quick transition by Scotland last weekend.

He didnt come from deep after his try v oz ...the backs were a mess (remember the pendulum) and v sa Tuilagi went off early, bringing marchant off the wing to centre- we then had an orthodox backline. Had this dialogue twice before.

[Which Tyler]

Seems finickerty to me - or am I just displaying why I'm (well, was) a back?

[Mr Mwenda]

Smith looks good when he's decisive. Seems to be the case as the game has gone on.

England ball presentation is terrible. What do they practice?

[Banquo]

we arent looking after the ball well.

[Banquo]

Smith looks good when he's decisive. Seems to be the case as the game has gone on.

England ball presentation is terrible. What do they practice?

this

[Mellsblue]

Genge is having a nightmare.

[Banquo]

Seems finickerty to me - or am I just displaying why I'm (well, was) a back?

agreed and ditto

[Banquo]

Genge is having a nightmare.

stuart not much better

[Galfon]

Like last week, letting points go when dominant.