Hartley tackles boring England narrative, George Ford at No10
Former England skipper Dylan Hartley has taken issue with accusations that Steve Borthwick’s team is boring but added that a starting half-back partnership versus Ireland consisting of Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell might be best with a view to the long-term evolution of the side.
The English saw their best start to the Guinness Six Nations since 2019 go up in flames in their demoralising round three 21-30 loss at Scotland on February 24. That setback reignited last year’s criticisms about how blunt their approach is with Borthwick as their head coach.
Hartley, though, has insisted that England are not as boring as they are made out to be, but he explained why change could be useful at scrum-half and out-half after veterans Danny Care and George Ford respectively started the last day at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
“There is intent to what England’s attack is trying to do – we are trying to play,” claimed Hartley in his latest Gambling Zone rugby column.
“If you look at the way they opened against Scotland, a few passes weren’t sticking, but the stats showed you that England had the highest pass count out of any team in the opening two rounds. Scotland had the highest kick count, so the narrative about England being boring is something I disagree with.
“There are a lot of very intelligent players in the England team. We are trying to unlock the door, pick the right pass and manipulate defences to find holes, but they aren’t quite unlocking it at the moment. The proof isn’t in the pudding at the moment but at some stage, it will click.
“England must have been frustrated with that Scotland performance. There were a lot of individual errors in there and, on another day, they catch balls, the passing is more accurate, and things aren’t as bad.”
Hartley added that Mitchell and Smith should be the starting No9 and No10 against title-favourites Ireland this weekend at Twickenham. “It’s a tough one. I can’t see Steve Borthwick changing George Ford but, then again, where England are in the tournament I don’t think they will learn anything about themselves with established players on the field.
“I would understand if some more inexperienced guys were selected as the experience will be great for them – but the same old story of professional sport, fans and the RFU demanding results will most probably mean it is an experienced side selected.
“Alex Mitchell will come back in and rightly so. He is the in-form scrum-half. He’s the sort of guy that can spark something – he is an instinctive player. He is the sort of guy that gives it a crack which is really good. What you need outside of that is someone who wants the ball as well.
“I don’t think England are going to lose anything by playing George Ford. I do think there is an opportunity for Steve Borthwick to be bold in his selection for Ireland. The question Borthwick faces is does he stick with his tried and tested or do you start to move on?
“Marcus Smith has been out, but now he is back, where does he fit into the side? Does Borthwick wait for George Ford to retire and then play Marcus Smith? It would be too late by then. He needs to be bold with his selection decisions.
“It will come down to how England want to play. Do they want to play quite a balanced game – I’m not saying Marcus can’t play balanced – or do they want to throw caution to the wind and give him [Smith] a crack and go for it? England can’t win the tournament, so that is the dilemma Borthwick is facing.
“My head is telling me that George Ford will play with Alex Mitchell but, in my heart, I would love to see Alex and Marcus paired together, and that is nothing against George.
“Then you have the whole obsession with picking between Manu Tuilagi and Ollie Lawrence. I’ve always loved playing alongside a powerhouse 12 – like an extra back rower who gives you clear punch and direction – but then I don’t think that Fraser Dingwall would have done too badly against Scotland if he kept his place in the team.
“For me, Dingwall is a really intelligent rugby player. He isn’t known for crash bash but is quietly capable due to intelligent running lines. He has got soft, silky hands and makes appropriate passes and a player like that was missing (against Scotland).
“He didn’t do anything wrong in the opening two games of the tournament and then, suddenly, Lawrence is back available, and he comes back into the team. Being honest, I don’t think that really worked.”
- Click here to read the latest Dylan Hartley Gambling Zone column in full
Comments on RugbyPass
Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to comments