|
It is still a bit early to call who will win this year's Six Nations but England have had two great victories, secured with performances designed to be successful in two very different situations. The squad has clearly picked up the winning bug and as has been mentioned by Eddie Jones they win those tight, tough contests. There is nothing better than being in those situations and coming out on top on a regular basis, because it becomes habit and you get used to winning with your backs against the wall. If a game is tight then it is difficult to imagine anything other than an England win right now. Jones is building a team on big, strong forwards, with some great finishers out wide and then the nine-10-12 axis dictating how and where the team plays. Danny Care had a great game at scrum-half against Wales, as he won a record-breaking 78th Test cap, especially considering the match was not played in what would be considered his 'type' of conditions. He stood up to the wind and the rain and did what he had to do to put England in a position to win. He's the type of player that young players in the squad can look up to. He came into the Aviva Premiership with a bang more than 12 years ago now, and had all the talent in the world. But he has really stepped up in terms of learning the game and understanding how vital a role a scrum-half has to play. Picking the right time to run is a massive positive for any team -- going at the wrong time can be detrimental -- but he has got that balance down to a tee and acts as a pivot for England. He is going to be great for Marcus Smith's education with both England and Harlequins. He is a great scrum-half to play with and learn from.  Outside of Care, George Ford and Owen Farrell have started the championship in confident mood and that is something that they can take into the next couple of weeks. How a team plays is completely dependent on the coach's philosophy. At Wasps when myself and Kyle Eastmond play at 10 and 12, we can run the game in the kind of fashion that George and Owen do for England. As a fly-half you've got to call the plays, and you have to do that as you see them, which may mean changing things at the last minute depending on how the opposition set up. You will never know 100 percent how you will play going into a game until it's in front of you -- sometimes you have to adapt your philosophy. England are building nicely with George and Owen -- and with Alex Lozowski stepping in at 12 on occasion as well -- that 10-12 axis clearly fits the philosophy that Jones is trying to work with. But it is not the only way that you can play -- just look at what Ma'a Nonu added to the All Blacks when they played with him at inside-centre. He was a devastating line-runner but he also added some nuance to the game.  Ireland, who are currently level on points with England at the top of the Six Nations table, do not play with that 'double-playmaker' either. They have Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton who control the game from nine and 10, and provide a more structured game plan. It is completely up to the coach. Looking ahead to the final three games of this year's championship, England will not disrespect anyone. Their focus will just be on the next game, and making sure that they prepare for it as if it is the biggest and most important one of the tournament -- because it is. Anything can happen in 80 minutes of rugby game and England's hopes of a third successive title will come down to their preparation and how much they commit to their game plan. Scotland have got a lot of talent and they play a lot of good rugby, so if the ball bounces their way at Murrayfield next Saturday they will believe they can win. Gregor Townsend oversaw a great comeback victory against France, but against Wales he would admit that his team underperformed -- so they've definitely got reason to turn in an excellent 80 minutes. And, they will prepare for that. But so will England, and if it becomes a close contest and a battle, recent history tells us that it is Jones' side that knows how to come out on top.
|
