Unofficial England Rugby Union - Ed Budge's Review of England's Autumn

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Ed Budge's Review of England's Autumn

Ed Budge

By Ed Budge 2/12/05
December 2 2005
Unofficial England's resident pundit reviews England's Autumn Internationals and looks forward with his selection to face Wales in the Six Nations.

England Rugby – December 2005

England have come through their autumn series entirely as expected, with wins against Australia and Samoa, but defeat (albeit a narrower one than many had predicted) against the All Blacks. And in many ways, Andy Robinson’s men played in a fashion that would hardly have left the World’s finest clairvoyants scratching their heads, either. The power of the forwards was too much for the Aussies, and gave Graham Henry’s New Zealand a scare, but for every box ticked in the pack, a question mark was raised in the backline.

But at least the rot has stopped. England are most definitely a team on the up, rather than one on the slide after this promising series, but it’s going to be an awfully long road back to the top, and lessons must be learned quickly, and in the right places. Someone close to Robinson must ensure that he has a copy of ‘Logan’s Run’ to hand, just in case he mistakes the World Cup medals flashing in some of his players’ hands for anything other than their cue to leave. Steve Thompson, Phil Vickery and Ben Cohen do not look like World-beaters, but all have regained a little form, a little fitness and, in Cohen’s case, the zest for the game that was so lacking for the past two seasons. However, with Matt Dawson and Mike Tindall stagnating in the Red Rose backs, there is little chance of progression – their time has clearly arrived.

Each game brought with it its own little improvements: after a demolition job on the Australian tight five in the opening game, England were brought down to Earth by Carl Hayman and co. but the paucity of the defence was rectified and fresh aggression instilled. The Samoa game showed us flashes of a willingness to offload and keep the ball alive that was previously lacking. From last season, we have seen a better scrum and lineout, a tighter maul, and more intuitive and better-informed kicking game.

Primarily, though, England’s plus points were individual ones. Andrew Sheridan has announced himself on the big stage, Pat Sanderson has taken his chance with both hands, Harry Ellis produced an eye-catchingly sparky performance against Samoa and Charlie Hodgson is growing very nicely into the number 10 shirt, thankyou very much. The biggest bonus had to be Steve Borthwick, who finally took his club form into a white shirt and then some. A natural leader and Europe’s best line-out forward, the Bath man has also fought like a flanker in the loose, and is starting to look like a lock of true World class.

England have what they needed from the autumn, and that is a platform for the next two years, thanks to the front five. Changes still need to be made and Robinson must decide where, when, how many and how much as soon as possible. Lee Mears and Matt Stevens are still capable of scrapping for their places in the front row, but Thompson and Vickery are showing few signs of playing their ways out of the side. Borthwick and Danny Grewcock, well, enough said really. The back row is the first bone of contention, both in terms of strategy and personnel. England’s commitment to breakdowns is a serious concern: the number of turnovers forced was negligible, and the amount of quick ball provided, doubly so. Be it tactical conservatism designed to accommodate the blanket defence and limit damage from being turned over ourselves, or merely Martin Corry and Lewis Moody’s unwillingness to ruck, it must be addressed. It is one thing to blame the backs for not creating opportunities, but it starts at source. Fortune, as they say, favours the brave; and there is never a good time for Corry to be on the wing.

In fact, when is there a good time for Corry to be anywhere? A little harsh perhaps, but his VI Nations form has deserted him, he is seldom used at the lineout, hardly shows the hands of a Test-class 8, has begun to miss crucial tackles (ask Dan Carter) and is not carrying with any dynamism. I will admit that is was essential for Corry to play over the autumn, so shorn of captaincy options was Robinson, and you can’t set a team off on a journey to the World Cup without a rudder. But take one glance at the pack that started the first two matches and you will see no fewer than five club captains. At 33, Corry’s legs may well have deserted him come 2007. There are better No. 8s out there, and if not now, then when? Lewis Moody has demonstrated the kind of petulance that undermines and compromises even the strongest line-ups, so his place must be looked at too. Joe Worsley will soon be fit again, Tom Rees is gaining experience to match his unquestionable talent, and Andy Beattie continues to set up enough ball to put any backline other than Bath’s at the top of the league. Robinson needs to keep his eyes open.

So, once the ball is won, what then? Two smart tries against the Australians and five last Saturday showed that it can be done, and certainly, the ball has no problems immediately it leaves the pack. Hodgson’s growing authority has been a delight to behold; the sharp passing remains constant, but the place kicking demons seem to have been eradicated (he is still not an 80%+ man, but then he was never going to be) and his tactical awareness has come on immeasurably. Ellis will improve if he is given the game time that he deserves, as will his relationship with Hodgson. The most encouraging aspect of the Leicester scrum-half’s play is his willingness to get involved; too many number 9s think their job is done once the ball is away from the breakdown, but not Ellis, whose pace makes him an asset to any team in broken play. Tactically, too, England are kicking away less good possession, and fewer forwards are infesting the wide-open spaces, although both points could still use a tweak.

Now, on to the fun part. England’s centres have been dreadful, and there is no way around it. One can only hope that Robinson can see that the ‘heartbeat’ of his side, Mr Tindall is not up to the job after seeing him looking like a lost lamb when placed in a decision making position, and spraying passes every which way but loose. It does not bode well that Jamie Noon was relieved of duty for the Samoan clash instead of giving ‘Tinds’ a rest. It was not all the centres’ fault though, Joe Lydon, and whoever else was responsible for coaching and overcoaching such robiticism into England’s backs needs replacing or better yet, removing. Top class backs do not need to be told how to score tries and create space – I’d guess that Charlie Hodgson could send out a miss pass on instinct when he was 13. Unless a once-in-a-generation luminary such as Brian Ashton falls into England’s hands, England need to completely stop playing from memory and start using the more immediate facets of their brains.

So, who is to fill the void? It seems harsh to leave out Noon; after all, he is faster than Tindall, steps better and passes better, but he still suffers from the same problem. As soon as either man receives the ball, and usually before, one knows what they are about to do – pass or run – entirely due to their running lines and the angle of their shoulders. This kind of predictability is too easy to defend against by far. The solution is not some kind of alchemical rugby freak who can run 100m in the blinking of an eye and pass the ball out of his ear. Rugby is a very simple game, and centre playmaking depends upon not letting your opposite number know whether you will pass or run, and the two most balanced players in this regard are Stuart Abbott and Ollie Smith. Olly Barkley and James Simpson-Daniel are the closest contenders to this pairing, but neither man has quite the same mastery of the lines of running required. Despite the masterclass in finishing provided by New Zealand this autumn, the backs must not be overkeen to develop a copycat style, in terms of offloading and decoy runners. But to ask their own questions, with changes of angles, runners coming onto the ball-carrier’s shoulder or pulling outside their man, and so on.

England have had a solid autumn series. Not a great one, by any means, especially if Andy Robinson wants to make good on his promise of rebuilding fortress Twickenham before the construction workers on the South Stand do, but a good one. The 2006 VI Nations will not be a stroll in the park, but should Robinson fear to take risks then we could find ourselves picking through the rubble of Old England once again.

My XXII for Wales, 4^th February 2006:

1. Sheridan

2. Thompson

3. Vickery

4. Borthwick (c)

5. Grewcock

6. Worsley

7. Sanderson

8. Forrester

9. Ellis

10. Hodgson

11. Voyce