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Eddie Jones questioning Rhys Patchell was a risk – Andy Goode

By Andy Goode
Maro Itoje carries the ball in last year's match

England against Wales is always a huge fixture but this one has a very different feel about it after the results and performances in the opening weekend of the Six Nations.

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A lot of people questioned Wales prior to last week and some wrote them off but they proved what they’re capable of and will be in bullish mood coming to Twickenham. The mind games during the week between Warren Gatland and Eddie Jones have been fun but they both know it’ll count for little come Saturday afternoon.

Gatland suggested his English counterpart would do a great job as the next British and Irish Lions coach earlier in the week and that a 3-0 whitewash would be expected in South Africa and it’s all a bit of paper talk that’ll be forgotten once the game is done and dusted.

Eddie Jones

Questioning Rhys Patchell’s ability to handle the pressure is a bit of a risk as that could backfire on Jones but it’s all aimed at taking the pressure off his own team and piling it on the opposition.

As a fly half going into a game of this intensity you are under a huge amount of pressure already and there will be no easy holes for Patchell to exploit. Jonathan Joseph has proven himself to be pretty adept at the intercept and if Jones planting an extra seed of doubt just buys England’s defence half a second because he’s thinking about the possibility of someone flying out of the line, then I’m all for it.

I was surprised Ben Te’o was picked last week with him not having played at all for over four months and therefore having no form to judge him on but Joseph is still the first choice outside centre, especially with Elliot Daly being injured.

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If anything, Te’o’s size could have been useful this week to match the physicality of Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams but George Ford, Owen Farrell and Joseph at 10, 12 and 13 is the combination that has served England so well in winning 23 of 24 Tests under Eddie Jones.

Mike Brown and Anthony Watson

And, what you lose in physicality with Joseph, you make up for in pace and they’ll be looking to find some space for him in the outside channels.

You want it to be a really attacking, free-flowing game and both teams showed some real quality in attack last week but Paul Gustard and Shaun Edwards are two of the best defensive coaches in the world and both sides will pride themselves on their defence in a game of this magnitude.

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England’s defence was patchy in Rome last week and they need to bring the intensity that Wales had against Scotland when they didn’t concede a point for over 78 minutes.

Wales have got some confidence now with ball in hand if they’re allowed to play and if England don’t dent that early, then it’ll be tough to dominate them physically when they’re trying to get the ball out of the contact and that’s the key battle for me.

To win against Wales you need to be physical and win the gainline battle. England had Nathan Hughes for this fixture last year but the best player in the pitch by far was Ross Moriarty and Wales lost a bit of intensity when he went off because he was playing like a man possessed.

 

Sam Simmonds on the charge versus Italy

It’ll be a huge test for Sam Simmonds after an exceptional Six Nations debut last week. Can he carry in traffic and make yards and who are the other hard-nosed ball carriers that are going to do the same against a tough Welsh defence?

That gainline and breakdown battle is going to be key and whoever dominates those areas and wins the physical confrontation will win the game.

Wales have beaten England three times at Twickenham in eight Tests there under Gatland and 10 of these players have experience of doing so, so there’ll be no fear factor among them and they’ll certainly have real belief that they can win.

However, England have won 13 straight Tests at Twickenham since the World Cup and I expect them to make that 14 against Wales. If you’d asked me two weeks ago, I’d have said it’d have been a comfortable victory by 15 points but now I think it’ll be an England win by five to seven points.

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Trevor 58 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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