England will be without their combative full-back Mike Brown for Sunday’s Six Nations game in Dublin but their self-belief remains firmly intact. As their backs coach, Andy Farrell, was quick to stress his side are making better decisions under pressure and, aggression-wise, still have plenty to throw at Ireland even without Brown’s spiky presence.
Alex Goode will now wear No15 after Brown woke up with a mild headache on Wednesday, ruling him out of contention under the concussion protocols. Goode is a slightly different type of player but is in good form, backs himself in the air and is just as driven to succeed. “We are fine as far as aggression is concerned, don’t worry about that,” murmured Farrell, one of rugby league’s all-time warriors. “We feel we have enough enforcers in the side to put our stamp on the game.”
With Jack Nowell on the left wing and Goode at full-back, however, two-thirds of England’s back three has been amended, with the possibility of a further change among the replacements if Kieran Brookes does not recover quickly enough from a hip flexor strain. Bath’s Henry Thomas took his place on the training field on Wednesday and it would not be the world’s biggest surprise if he is on the bench at the Aviva Stadium.
It is the attitude of England’s forwards, either way, which arguably holds the key to this eagerly awaited contest between the defending Six Nations champions and this season’s table-toppers, both ranked in the world’s top four. Farrell was in the England team physically blown away at Croke Park in 2007, while the 2011 game, which Ireland won 24-8, was another notable red rose disappointment.
The difference this time, according to Farrell, is that England’s past near-misses under Stuart Lancaster – they have finished second for the past three championship seasons – have focused the minds of all concerned. “They have galvanised us into a side who are more composed and relaxed in pressure situations,” Farrell said. “We are a lot more experienced now. This side are very good at rolling with the punches and knowing how to counteract those situations.”
That is not necessarily the public perception of England’s hooker, Dylan Hartley, back in front of a media audience for the first time since his red card in December for elbowing Leicester’s Matt Smith. Such perceptions are not entirely accurate in a Six Nations context – he has played in 32 championship games without being shown a card of any colour – but the Northampton captain does have some history with Ireland, having received an eight-week ban after being found guilty of biting Stephen Ferris at Twickenham in 2012.
The England management have made it clear that any more episodes of ill-discipline will not be tolerated and Hartley has been doing all he can to steer clear of trouble. “I’ve tried to keep my head down and let my rugby do the talking,” he said. “You said that Stuart Lancaster had a perfect opportunity to drop me but I think I’ve given him reason to keep me here in the first two games.”
Hartley and his fellow forwards have already succeeded at one daunting away venue, having seen off Wales in Cardiff, and are determined not to get too wound up against an Ireland side seeking a record-equalling 10th successive victory. “I’ve seen players punching walls before but this group is not like that. I used to get like that but you learn what works and, obviously, certain things haven’t worked for me before. The older I get the more I have got to know myself a bit better.”
A number of narrow failures with both club and country have also taught him that opportunities like Sunday need to be taken. “The way we have started we can be confident but I suppose it will come down to Sunday. We want to be champions – I don’t think there’s any shame in saying that. They are the holders; we want that trophy and if we want it we’re going to have to go out there and win this weekend. We don’t want to be plucky losers and all that.”
