Jones’ England come unstuck for the second time
It has become almost unheard of during the Eddie Jones regime, but England left Murrayfield with a rare defeat to their name. Whilst nothing should be taken from Scotland’s all-conquering first forty, England were poor and the defeat did highlight some areas of weakness that have been papered over by a series of remarkable wins – back-row balance, leading to susceptibility to quick ball and defence in the wide channels, as well as attack when the structure isn’t working.
It started ominously as England failed to find any fluency and Greig Laidlaw slotted three points for the hosts. Owen Farrell responded in kind, but that was to be as good as it got for his side. The magnificent Finn Russell grubbered through for Huw Jones, who (knowingly or not) kicked ahead again and flopped on the ball for the opening try. If that score owed a little to luck, the second was anything but fortunate. Russell launched a ludicrous pass over the heads of the English defence for Jones to carve through before being hauled down. Quick recycling and Sean Maitland found himself diving over in the corner. Farrell had another penalty, but Scotland another try through Jones after a superb line bust. The score was 22-6 at the interval and England looked rattled.
As the teams re-entered the fray, it briefly looked up for England when Farrell sliced through and converted his own try. That was in vain though, with England still struggling for quick ruck ball and being outfoxed by John Barclay when they did get in to promising positions. Time was running out and, when Sam Underhill was yellow carded and Russell kicked the resulting penalty, the writing was on the wall. They may have won the second half (something to shout about for my team, not for the England behemoth),but they had lost the game 22-13.
Like Scotland after the Wales defeat, England haven’t become a bad team overnight, but they will need to emulate the response of their northern neighbours if they have ambitions of retaining the Six Nations yet again. A little help from Scotland when they travel to Dublin wouldn’t go amiss either.
Ireland take full advantage of England’s slip, French pull away in closing stages
Whilst many people were pencilling in 17th March as a grand slam decider, it now looks like Ireland’s championship to lose after beating Wales 37-27 and securing the bonus-point in the process. The Aviva crowd were treated to an array of delightful tries and momentum shifts throughout the game, but ultimately Jacob Stockdale’s second try in the dying embers of the game was the deciding factor. Wales had hauled themselves back into contention after letting it slip, with tries from Aaron Shingler and Steff Evans, but it was too little to amend their penalty-conceding misdemeanours. The defeat effectively ends Welsh hopes, whilst Ireland entertain Scotland in two weeks’ time with their sights set on wrapping up the Championship.
France put in a strong enough showing in the second half to comfortably beat their Italian visitors by 34 points to 17. The opening was very much in the balance and, if anything, the Azzurri should have gone in ahead, but Paul Gabrillagues’ try and a couple of Maxime Machenaud penalties were enough to better the Italian penalty try. Mathieu Basteraud came out firing in the second half, creating and scoring a try, which was too much for the Italians, who could only muster a Matteo Minozzi consolation.
Tigers raid Allianz Park
It has been a rare occurrence for a Tigers fan this season, but there was finally a reason to celebrate a genuinely big victory as they got a bonus point win at Saracens. London Irish also got a win over Worcester to keep the relegation scrap going. Bath squeaked past Sale 33-32, whilst Exeter had to come back to do the same against Northampton. Wasps and Gloucester participated in an entertaining 25-all draw, whilst Newcastle smashed Harlequins to creep into the playoff places.
Hero of the week
There really were a few candidates to choose from, particularly in the Scotland ranks, though none overcame a slump in form in quite the same way as Finn Russell did. When he is on fire, he really is one of the best operatives to watch in the world. Perhaps Eddie Jones should stick to berating the opposition fly-half, rather than shouting about how ‘world-class’ they are. However he describes them, he always seems to be right…
Villain of the week
It didn’t look like anything overly major, however the scuffle between England and Scotland before the match is never pleasant to see. In the heat of the moment during the game, it is understandable that tempers can flare, but before and after the time on the pitch, rugby needs to keep its respectability. The only solution is to give a short ban to the players involved and fine the unions. It must be deterred before it becomes part of the game in the way other things (constant dialogue with the referee for starters) have.
Try of the week
On a day when he put in more first-class deliveries than the Royal Mail, Finn Russell’s pass that initiated the move for Sean Maitland’s try was a wonder to behold. From there, Hugh Jones stormed upfield and quick recycling left England at sixes and sevens before Russell popped another beauty over the top for Maitland to dive over.
Here are the match highlights – skip to 2 mins for that pass.
Discussion points
Where are England’s problem areas that need addressing in order to genuinely be able to compete with New Zealand at the very top?
How should a back-row lacking in balance be altered?
Can Scotland do the unthinkable and surprise Ireland as well?
Going into the final two weeks, how do you think the final table will look?
by Joe Large
England really were dreadful, particularly at the breakdown. I think the stat yesterday was that we gave away 7 penalties at attacking breakdowns. That really is awful.
Feel like it’s been mentioned a lot on here, but the backrow balance is all too slow. Too many of those penalties were as a result of the English back row getting there a split second after their Scottish counterparts.
Add in the fact that only really Hughes offered a carrying threat, and two key facets of the pack failed dismally.
I’m slightly glad it happened though, but only if it results in Jones never playing a lock at flanker again, and also never putting the 7 shirt on Robshaws back. I’d rather we found that out now than at the WC.
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Quick question, has anyone worked out whether winning the tournament is still within our (Eng) control. i.e. if we get a BP against Ireland and deny them one? (assuming (ha!) that we beat France with a BP)
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It’s on my to-do list for today. Definitely need a BP in Paris, and I think we’ll need Scotland to not concede 4 tries in Dublin…
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Certainly not England’s finest hour, but I think some perspective is important. Scotland did not turn up against Wales in the first weekend, but they do have the scalps of Australia x2, Wales, Ireland and now England within the last 12 months (as well as giving New Zealand a close run game). They are ranked 5th in the world – this was never going to be the walkover that many England fans expected and perhaps that was our downfall. Just again proves how difficult it is to win away from home in the Six Nations.
That being said, England were 1 or 2 decisions going the other way from being back in the game. In particular I look to the Care intercept and wonder how the game may have gone were that to have been given as many (admittedly rose-tinted) England fans saw it.
In short, it’s a bad loss and certainly appears to have taken the wind out of the sails of English rugby, but hopefully this will be temporary. Ireland still have to beat Scotland and England at Twickenham for a Grand Slam, which is no easy feat, and I for one look forward to seeing how it all unfolds.
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The Care intercept is slightly questionable but certainly wasn’t the reason we lost this game. You get some calls that go your way and some that don’t. I am sure most Welshman will have a wry smile on their faces with all of the English moaning about this decision.
We were beaten by the better team on the day.
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Apologies – in taking aim against the England doom and gloomers I came across as the even worse section of fans, the ‘it was the ref’ers!
I do think Scotland beat us across the park and fully deserved their win, don’t get me wrong. I just meant to make the point that England weren’t as comprehensively beaten as people say and a marginal call the other way puts as back in it, not to say we would have gone on to win of course.
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I only watched the first half and really Scotland had the beating of us and no staunch England fan can deny that, I missed the second half so cannot possibly comment but i’m finding some of the Scottish trolling comments on certain pages in here quite funny.
My only gripe was the Scottish crowd booing Faz in the first half when place kicking then going stony quite for Laidlaw, please stop it, it’s not football.
England had the air of that they had the game won before they started and paid for it.
I hope now that Eddie starts picking an out and out 6 and 7 as locks on the flank
isn’t working and Wigglesworth for me isn’t our third choice scrum half someone else needs blooding in the build up to Japan.
Well done Scotland the best team won, see you at Twickenham next year.
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Mr B – given that Nigel Owens was the ref, maybe you should have said “it isn’t soccer”…..
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Staggy if there were emoji’s here I would bow for you sir.
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Does anyone else think that Danny Care is not good enough as a starting 9?
He is a brilliant player off the bench at 60 minutes when the game is starting to open up, however from minute 1 I don’t think he has it. With Ben Youngs there is a lot of control at the beginning of the game, there aren’t endless phases which go nowhere. When we stop going forward with Youngs he puts in a good kick and we start again, with Care it just seems to go back and forth until we concede a knock-on or penalty. Care also makes too many tactically risky decisions early on.
Wigglesworth is a 9 in the Youngs mold and I’d like to see him starting, setting the game up for Care to then come and take it away from the oppo.
Thoughts?
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Personally think Care is a decent starting scrum half, but also think that he is a brilliant finisher, and that’s where I prefer him.
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Totally agree with you Toby. He didn’t look like he was completely in control against Wales and I think Scotland rightly identified the breakdown as a way of getting to Care and forcing him to make decisions. Too many times Scotland were allowed to counter-ruck and Care did nothing except stand behind the ruck and hold his hands up. This is not going to get the ball out of the ruck and into the hands of the English attackers. If he has his hands on the ball then the opposition are not allowed to play it, so by standing there with his hands in the air it is an open invitation to them to counter ruck. This may have been partly due to the England forwards not getting to the breakdown quick enough but, someone of Care’s experience and ability should have had an answer to this or, at least figured one out!
Not sure if Wiggy is the answer but, as he is the only other scrum half in the squad (let’s not start that debate again!!), he may well be a better option for the first 60 minutes.
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Often agree with a lot of what you say Dazza, but think you are completely wrong here. Care would have scored an excellent intercept try which might have put us back in the game if Owens hadn´t suddenly remembered where he was from. He is currently the best nine we have, with a much quicker and more accurate pass than Youngs, but we hardly got any quick ball for him to use and there were a number of occasions when he could not go in to get the ball out because he would simply have ended up at the bottom of a pile of bodies as the Scots drove over. His kicking was also pretty good but we missed a lot of tackles on the follow up. Ford and Farrell have also taken a lot of stick for this loss, but imv the responsibility lies squarely with the pack who delivered slow ball which left the inside backs on the back foot all afternoon. If you are looking for a scrum half to come through, Harrison once again looked really good for Leicester this weekend. A few more weeks and Youngs may have to look to his laurels at club level as well as for England. Wigglesworth is a great club player but not quick enough or instinctive enough at international level.
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One thought Toby. Complete tosh.
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Agree with Toby and dazza.
I thought care was pedestrian. His decision making really shows a lack of a rugby brain. Great player on instinct but ask him to think and he comes undone. Example someone threw a quick line out to him (poor option whoever it was) care compounds this by kicking over directly to hogg who kicks long and we’re back near our 22 again.
Care did delay at the back of the ruck and I thought his and browns poor kicking heaped the pressure on us.
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We were beaten at the breakdown. Personally, I think that everything else stemmed from that. Care may not have had his best game but I can’t see any scrum half thriving under those conditions. Can’t think of anyone else that I’d rather see start instead of him at the moment.
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Well I think that the doubts that many of us have had over the past 6 months have come home to roost.
1. Back row balance. We were completely outplayed at the breakdown. Although all players have a responsibility, it is the back row that has to deal with this primarily. This led to slow ball for us (which stopped Ford playing), quick ball for them (which enabled Finn Russell to play) and multiple turnovers. It was where the game was won and lost. Robshaw is not an 8!
2. Not developing a third (or fourth scrum half). I have been a real fan of Youngs starting and Care coming on to run at tired legs. Has really worked for England. However EJ has failed to develop any international depth. Big failure. Wigglesworth played fine but didn’t have that impact off the bench. Surely Robson would have injected some more speed into things.
3. Intelligence. We don’t seem to have the intelligence or leadership to turn things around if they are going wrong. Easier said than done I do admit. No idea where this is going to come from though, but surely EJ needs to get his players thinking more and being able to react to different situations. An old England failing.
4. Having brought players through and introduced new players at the start of his reign, EJ now seems set on certain players regardless. Is it a coincidence that Simmonds and Underhill have looked dynamic when on the pitch, compared to the incumbents? Having said that, I actually like Brown (except his diabolical passing) and Hartley and am not convinced by Underhill. Itoje looks off the pace. So maybe a little more playing form players, but not too much.
Having said all of this, Scotland are a quality team at home and fully deserved their victory. Just hope that EJ will now set aside his stubbornness and learn from the failings, which have been evident for quite a number of games.
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“Where are England’s problem areas that need addressing in order to genuinely be able to compete with New Zealand at the very top?”
Jesus ye just never stop do you…its thing’s like this that are factor in fan’s laughing at England when they flop…
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Agreed Cathal. The question we should be asking is how are England going to put the cart back on the rails in time to avoid a couple of ignominious defeats to France and Ireland, thus avoiding a slide down the world rankings, enthusiastic pillorying of EJ and all things English in the press, and the scornful laughter who wait with baited breath for every sign that England are on the skids.
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Not quite sure why this aim is something to be sniggered at? Expect all the other home nations are considering exactly the same – obviously unless they have set their sights at a lower level……?
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If you’re ranked second in the world, and have been for the better part of a year and a half – where do you expect them to aim?
Genuine question. Surely the only way for England to view progression is whether they can get closer/surpass NZ?
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I thought the players looked tired. Half a yard off the pace meant they couldn’t get to the breakdown in time. As a result of losing the breakdown battle, we weren’t able to establish a foothold in the game. This led to a few mistakes from players forcing things, which further disrupted our rhythm.
The England camps have a reputation for being very intense, but I’d like to see them just give the players an opportunity to relax and recover. They’ve been in camp for a month, 90% of the team has been playing together for years, so I’m not sure what good it would do to give them a beasting.
I’d drop Lawes to the bench, with Kruis dropping out altogether. Robshaw, Underhill (if available) and Hughes to start, with Simmonds (if available), Haskell or Mercer on the bench. Te’o and Nowell in for Joseph and May.
Highly doubt EJ is going to drop Hartley, Wigglesworth or Brown, whereas the changes above are ones he could reasonably make.
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I’m not sure it was tiredness that led to us being late to the breakdown, we simply played the game with a pack that was very, very slow. Certainly all members of the back row would be considered slower than their opposite man so that issue can only be resolved with team changes.
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Personally would drop Itoje to the bench. Hasn’t been at the same standard since his injury. Lawes and Launchbury both playing pretty well. Would like to see Teo start, but like May’s pace so would keep him.
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Well it’s 1 game, but echoing the ST, this loss is a blow for England. It certainly wiped the smile from the taunting gnome’s dial, for now @ least.
It exposed cracks that have long been apparent & illustrated by England’s inability to score tries through their midfield. There was a lack of innovation there & @ fly1/2 (/s for that is what Farrell really is too).
Also consider their ineffectual @ breakdown. This was especially so with ‘Robshaw, a ‘6 & a ½’, as per Eddie’s opinion, playing @ 7. So why play him @ there? I don’t blame Robshaw. He can be effective & is tireless, but @ 6. And Lawes is a lock. This fudging @ loose fwd cost England.
In the event, England were out ‘rucked’ by Scotland & so starved of necessary possession.
They lacked variety in midfield & inside. Ford & Farrell were robotic & manufactured. Under pressure, they were ordinary & played by numbers. What price Danny Cip now?
The backline generally lacked innovation & penetration, such as insertions from the back 3. Also wrap arounds. Or how about passes from a centre, directly backwards behind his running line, to an outside back following in the former’s footsteps. This is Jones’s fault. He he’s done little to improve on what Lancaster’s team did previously.
England upped the 2nd ½ tempo, but, even with the ‘finishers’ on, this changed little. What’s the point of brining on fresh legs when they basically continued with the same old?
BTW, the ST’s contention that Townsend has rescued Scottish professional rugby, is spurious. It’s far too soon to state that yet, certainly following the Wales v Scotland result. Besides, Townsend inherited Cotter’s team.
England will likely recover from this loss, up to a point anyway. They will probably beat a try butchering & penalty conceding France, but it will be tougher as the latter will have taken confidence from the England v Scotland game.
Ireland too will have seen England’s shortfalls & be looking forward, with greater self-belief, to their Twickenham showdown.
Over to Eddie & England then.
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One of my takeaways was “what is the point in finishers if you arent winning/in control of the game?”. Whilst the blueprint of starter-finisher has served England well, it seems that it could be quite limited to select players on the bench with the assumption that they will come on to see out a game. My personal preference would be to choose the best XV available, and if this means that some of the starting XV drop out entirely, then so be it.
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