England’s Strategy Shines: A Path to Rebound
I am always in favor of winning above all else. Of course, England wants to entertain their fans too, but when wearing that white jersey, your primary goal as a player should be to win the game itself.
As an athlete, I never considered how I could perform for entertainment purposes. If these recent victories over France and Scotland mark the beginning of a ten-game unbeaten streak for England, it wouldnt matter if they were the most unattractive team on Earth; their fans would still be jubilant at Allianz Stadium.
The allure of Twickenham comes from knowing that no one can defeat you or mess around with your game. After Scotland’s victory two hours post-match, pubs and bars surrounding the stadium were overflowing with ecstatic supporters. Englands recent performances where theyve come back after going behind are a valuable learning experience for these players.
The team has developed a solid set-piece that will handle most opponents, while their line-out shows improvement with Ollie Chessum’s contribution. At the breakdown, they have balanced out the back row well. However, I feel that kicking when its not necessary is a glaring omission from Englands game.
During five-on-three situations in attack, we should isolate and walk into the final defender for a try instead of relying solely on kicksespecially if there’s no static momentum. The team seems to be adopting scenarios they practice during training rather than adapting to different oppositions. In previous matches last years Six Nations tournament, England appeared overly aggressive.
England has shown improvement in their line break opportunities; Marcus Smith went through the middle near the end of the first half, a move top teams typically finish off successfully. What frustrates them is when they don’t capitalize on such chances. The team boasts talented and skilled individuals who should take more calculated risks.
I appreciate England’s openness and honesty after games where they recognize their shortcomings but commit to improvement, especially in defense. Their sound defensive strategies have given them a chance to win despite some past struggles.
The next challenge for England is Italy at home, which offers an opportunity to increase the risk profile of their attack while continuing their strong performances and maintaining confidence following recent victories under new head coach Eddie Jones. The Six Nations tournament is far from over; grand slams are challenging but not impossible.
Sam Prendergasts performance for Ireland suggests he could be a viable option at fly-half, despite making mistakessimilar to Fin Smith’s learning curve in international play. Steve Borthwick may face a conundrum with George Furbank coming back from injury; while Marcus Smith is talented and effective as full-back due to England having multiple options there, I don’t think hes the long-term answer at 15.
France’s performance against Scotland suggests they can cause upset in Dublin. Despite this years British and Irish Lions fly-half selection being uncertain with Finn Russell experiencing a tough day, his improved team play is positive for future considerations.
In conclusion, England has shown resilience and improvement under Eddie Jones leadership but faces significant challenges ahead as the Six Nations continues to unfold.
