Simmonds and co impress, but fault lines exist in Eddie's England
England’s trip to Rome on Sunday bordered on something resembling the perfect start to the Six Nations for Eddie Jones and his men.
Not only were they able to score a resounding away win, wrapping up a potentially important bonus point in the process, but they were also tested by an Italian side that did not simply rollover and who were more than content to play a high-tempo game with the reigning champions.
England may have ultimately racked up a 46-15 score on their hosts – and that was fair value for their overall performance – but Conor O’Shea’s side were competitive with England for much of the game and it wasn’t until the 68th minute that England really put away the Azzurri.
There was none of the innovative spoiling that Italy brought to Twickenham last year and fans at the Stadio Olimpico were treated to a contest where both sides played positive, attacking rugby.
Except for a potentially significant knee injury to starting scrum-half Ben Youngs, who will have a scan on Monday, the game could not have gone better for Jones, whose side now go into their preparation for Wales’ visit to Twickenham feeling confident, battle-tested and looking unusually sharp for their first game together in over two months.
Even during Jones’ particularly successful tenure, slow starts to games and tournaments have been a hallmark of England, due in part, especially in regard to the latter, to the larger collection of teams the players are drawn from in comparison to many other nations, but there was notably little rust on England in Rome.
Wales got off to their own sharp start, besting Scotland, 34-7, in Cardiff on Saturday, making England’s quick start all the more important heading into a crucial fixture at Twickenham this coming weekend.
The playmaking 10-12 axis of George Ford and Owen Farrell were on the same wavelength throughout and looked comfortable pulling the strings on the gain-line. Ford mixed up his game well, with a combination of flat passes and cutbacks, and both players crossed the try line, popping up with the vital assisting passes for one another.
At the set-piece, England also looked in fine shape.
Dylan Hartley was 11 from 11 with his lineout throws and there was perhaps little surprise England excelled in this area, with Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes their two primary jumpers, but it was the superior scrum, something England have lacked in recent times, which caught the eye.
Dan Cole turned the screw on his opposite number Andrea Lovotti in the first half and continued that dominance into the second half against replacement Nicola Quaglio. More arduous challenges await – most notably Ireland’s vaunted front-row – but it was a welcome sight for Jones, who picked it out as a particularly praiseworthy area after the game.
Elsewhere in the pack, Sam Simmonds’ first start in England colours could not have gone better. When the Italian defence was fresh and space was at a premium, Simmonds made his presence known as a defender, successfully chop tackling his way to half time, and it was after the break that his attacking skills came to the fore.
With the Italian defence focused on the lineout and maul threat posed by Lawes, a neat transfer from the Northampton man saw Simmonds run through a hole in the Italian defence and his turn of pace saw him gallop away from the cover. Similarly, his second try came in a one-on-two situation where he was able to run between – and away from – a wing and a scrum-half. It’s a rare skill set in a modern Test No 8 and one England will have to work on ways of still being able to capitalise on when both Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes return to fitness.
There was no shortage of other impressive performances, with Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell both looking dangerous out wide, Maro Itoje industrious and Ben Te’o providing a thrust not seen in an England centre pairing since Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi patrolled the midfield.
England weren’t without their faults, though.
Both Mattia Bellini and Tommaso Benvenuti were able to hurt England out wide and with Te’o at 13 rather than Joseph, it was noticeable that England defended more narrowly. Te’o did make good decisions as to when and when not to blitz, but he is not as mobile as Joseph is, particularly when fanning out wide and staying with attacking players on outside arcs.
It was a mixed bag for Mike Brown and Jonny May, too, who had important attacking impact but also made some errors here and there. Combined with the width of England’s defence, Wales will head to Twickenham believing that the wider channels and in behind the defence are areas they can hurt the home side.
It was a good “carrying-by-committee” performance from England, who got on the front-foot through a combination of Lawes, Mako Vunipola and the rest of the pack, but there was no player they were able to go to and consistently be guaranteed of breaking the gain line, in the way they usually can when Billy Vunipola is available.
It didn’t cost England in Rome but again, if Wales are looking for ways they can get at England, ensuring their fringe defence is as formidable as it can be, is another conceivable way of denying Jones’ side the momentum they crave.
Rhys Patchell’s performance on Saturday will not have gone unnoticed by England, either, and raises questions of how will the home side try to stymie the in-form fly-half?
Could this be another way of utilising Simmonds’ unique skills?
There is no end of interesting factors to consider heading into England vs Wales, but perhaps the most exciting thing about next weekend’s match-up is the coming together of these two midfields, who clicked so successfully in their first outings of the tournament.
The almost-telepathic connection of Ford and Farrell floating around the hard-running of Te’o versus the all-Scarlets trio at the heart of Wales’ comfortable win over Scotland? It’s a salivating head-to-head.
Keep your eyes peeled on RugbyPass.com this week, where we will be taking a closer tactical look at England’s performance in Rome and previewing the match with Wales in more detail.
Comments on RugbyPass
“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
1 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
15 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
2 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
70 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
70 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
15 Go to commentsGotta give it to you Graham, you support your players and team to the hilt. There may be strains of exaggeration laced throughout but gotta love the passionate parochialism.
2 Go to commentsNice one Nick. No doubt Vunivalu’s involvements and work rate are improving this year in attack, but I still think he is too raw on the defensive and backfield part of his game to be considered as a starter. Wales would just kick and run it to his side all night as the brumbies have done to good effect in the past. But, his size/power will keep him in the convo with Mark N leaving and Petaia’s injury record. Hunter definitely enjoying an injury-free run this season and being given the keys by Kiss - I have always been a fan of his. All I’d say is that his triple threat has been evident since 2020/21. I remember him making a grubber for a petaia try after the siren to beat the Brumbies in Canberra after the 80th minute in 2021. Lastly, Jock Campbell, who I know isn’t at the top of your list, I thought had alot of positive involvements in the saders game including both of Tim ryan’s tries and Mcreights
70 Go to commentsAg please, Pieter Stef Du Toit has played circles around this clown.
2 Go to commentsJust celebrating the Bok’s 1648th consecutive day as RWC champions. They are also the Qatar Airways Cup winners, which I know BennieBoy cares about a lot.
2 Go to commentsGood to here positive stories towards Aus Rugby. Although that might be the case, and highers up are right about Jordie, I wouldn’t stress trying to retain him. What I have seen of him in recent times is that he’s not using that something special. I feel there a better ‘something special’ options coming through that they won’t have to compete with league for, hell even in Kerevi and Paisami (isn’t it great to finally see his ability getting recognized, probably taking this article in isolation too much here).
70 Go to commentsgreat article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
15 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
1 Go to commentsblackadder isnt a key player at all you cant say hes been the best player or a key all black when hes injured every week
4 Go to commentsThat loss to the Blues still stings! The Reds have fallen short in 4 of the 6 games decided by 7 points or fewer. Are they not fit enough to close out the close games or are there tactical issues when games go down to the wire? The pleasing thing is no Australian side can better the Reds record of 3 wins from 5 against Kiwi sides but the Brumbies can match it. Les Kiss has instilled a belief in the Reds that they can match it with all the New Zealand sides.
70 Go to commentsA potential 5th star for Leinster and redemption adter losing 2 tight finals against La Rochelle against Toulouse and the chance for Jacques Nienaber to have some success without Rassie Erasmus running the show.
15 Go to comments