No12 is a nice problem for England
No longer is a lack of options at inside-centre troubling England’s coaches. Now it is a question of the balance of ingredients. With so much reliance on the ball‑carrying of Billy Vunipola, England might have benefited from a bit more punch in midfield. Maybe someone else of Pacific Islands heritage? Then again, the distribution of George Ford and Owen Farrell was the key to exploiting Ireland’s narrowness for both England’s tries at Twickenham. Dilemmas. Options.
From champions to a wooden-spoon play-off
Who would have thought that round four’s fixture between Ireland and Italy would turn into a decider for the wooden spoon? Scotland may yet enter the equation (they play in Dublin in round five) but for now Ireland-Italy equals fifth v sixth. Ireland will surely win it, though. This was actually their best performance of the 2016 championship, hard in defence and unlucky not to score more tries from their numerous line breaks. They did not much resemble Stoke City, whatever that means. Handling was their biggest letdown.
Silent Eddie
Eddie Jones insisted he was not going to do any press in the buildup to the Wales game, which would be a shame for those who enjoy a bit of entertainment between matches. People had wondered whether the devil-may-care performances of the England coach were by design but it seems increasingly as if the Australian just cannot help himself, so he wants to keep his head down for a bit which would be a loss. Keep shooting from the hip, Eddie, We love it.
Like coach, like team on discipline front
If teams are moulded in the image of their coaches, perhaps it should not be surprising England are almost as careless with their discipline on the field as Jones is loose with his tongue in front of the media. Jones has said he is not afraid of his teams conceding penalties, as long as they are not dumb. And it is true that the only penalty Ireland took at goal was for a nothing scrum infringement. James Haskell’s yellow card, the first of the Jones regime, was clumsy but Danny Care’s was just the kind that Jones will accept as “smart”.
Set-piece clicks
The verdict after the match against Scotland at Murrayfield was “lineout good, scrum bad” and it was the other way round after the Italy game in Rome. Game three was when both set pieces came good. England stole three lineouts in the second half and lost only one of their own — and that after they had taken it safely. Maro Itoje enjoyed an understated debut of excellence, while George Kruis is indisputably England’s best lineout forward. And the scrum waxed as the game went on. Jamie George came on and seemed to stiffen it further.
