Learning: Chris Robshaw
Defeat at Twickenham for England creates a whole host of reactions, but Saturday's aftermath in one newspaper revolved around fear and doom.
Fear that England are in a irreversible slump and doomed to fail at the next Rugby World Cup, with the foundations of the national game need immediate change and that nothing will be good again until Sir Clive Woodward returns to coaching set-up.
What's more, the long-term plan of amassing camps amongst younger stars to build them up for 2015 is apparently flawed. Rather than let them flourish, calls instead were made for the return of veteran Dean Schofield, the seriously injured Hendre Fourie and sprightly 39-year old Simon Shaw amongst others. Fear-mongering at it's finest.
The reaction is so astonishing because England are far from a team getting hammered every week - they are a team who continue to learn with every outing, making mistakes, but not without positives.
Take Saturday's defeat to South Africa as an example, in a match where England were expected to be outmuscled against a side with 431 caps to their own 233.
Rather than another physical mauling as witnessed on occasion during the June series, England matched the Springboks' physicality in defence and at the scrum, edging the latter battle down to the rulings of Nigel Owens with South Africa conceding four penalties and two free kicks. Interpretation is everything and according to Owens, Alex Corbisiero had the edge over Jannie du Plessis.
Many more stats fall in England's favour - possession (58%), territory (60%), defenders beaten (15) and tackling success rate (90.6%). Yet, inevitably, there are areas where they were poor and it proved costly.
The lineout partnership of Tom Youngs and Geoff Parling has been perfect coming into the match against South Africa, with 28/28 throws made against Fiji and Australia. On Saturday, under pressure from the outstanding Eben Etzebeth, it spluttered.
That unfortunately is the problem with inexperienced players and combinations. England's lineout was brilliant against Australia, yet their scrum was woeful. Fast forward seven days and you have the reverse.
Where concern lies most however is with the attack. England's stats going forward appear excellent initially - 161 passes made, 431 metres mate, five clean breaks - except for one stat in particular; no tries.
Not long ago England were heavily criticised for being unable to carry out basic passing skills. Now those skills are excellent, except they look and feel drilled in, not natural. For all of their possession against the Springboks, there was not nearly enough invention or cutting edge to really break down the South African wall.
Fielding Chris Robshaw as a first receiver to lure in defenders only truly works if the England captain makes ground, but on Saturday he was static, unable to create momentum. By the time Toby Flood received the ball on second phase, South Africa were in his face.
On top of that, England have a problem in Brad Barritt. His work-rate is exceptional in defence, but he offers so little going forward - just eight metres made on Saturday - that England become stagnant before Manu Tuilagi and the back three can even dream of getting the ball (although when Chris Ashton had his moment to shine following Tuilagi's interception, he infuriatingly chose to pass rather than back his pace.)
Stuart Lancaster expressed his ambition to have two playmakers in midfield when he first took the job last December, but for now there are no obvious candidates for the inside centre berth. Jonathan Joseph's burst of pace and footwork are essential to livening up England's attack, but he cannot do it alone.
England do though remain full of potential, with Tom Youngs, Joe Launchbury, Alex Goode and others making progress this month and with Dylan Hartley, Tom Croft, Courtney Lawes and Ben Foden all to return. The experience of key decisions in the last two weeks will benefit Robshaw's leadership in the future.
In time, possibly under this management, England will turn narrow defeats such as Saturday's into victories, but it will take patience rather than a Chelsea-esque move of drastic restructuring and panic. The hysteria surrounding the seedings for the next RWC have left many ignorant to the fact that if England are good enough by 2015, they will defeat anybody.
Against New Zealand, nobody expects England to win. What better time to express yourself?
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
Timofporirua says...
Every country has someone who, in the heat of battle, does something crazy. So we who live in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones.
When you think of the great traditions of rugby, you think of "Land of Our Fathers" at the Arms Park/Millenium Stadium, or "Flower of Scotland" at Murrayfield, or the haka anywhere. As I pointed out before England has over the centuries been at the pinnacle of creativity. Why not now with its rugby team?
The anthem it sings at the beginning is a bit peripheral to what it does next during the game, but it doesn't hurt to be uplifted as you start the game. Maybe someone could put Churchill's speech: We shall fight them on the beaches, etc to music. Probably work better than Morris dancing!
Posted 23:21 27th November 2012
felly says...
Challenge to all posters: The chip on Jonesy2's shoulder, what do you reckon it really involves? What's the cause?
I look forward to any responses.
Posted 16:51 27th November 2012
LondonWasp says...
@Timofporirua
I agree, England should change our national anthem. I have always viewed 'God Save the Queen' as a British anthem rather than just straight english. (it is also an incredibly boring anthem) My vote is we change the English Anthem to 'Jeruselum' or 'Land of Hope and Glory'- far more exciting and patriotic! I always find it degrading when Wales and Scotland belt out their anthems with a real passion, and us English are stuck with boring old God save the queen...
@Chancer
................ i like the Haka..............................
Posted 14:38 27th November 2012
lawynd says...
@dropkick - Rome wasn't built in a day, as the saying goes; Lancaster is trying to reverse nigh on a decade of damage and mediocrity inflicted upon England by successive average management and boardroom interference. No, England aren't looking fantastic at the moment but there are signs of improvement, which is all we really ask for. Of course, with people like you we're damned either way - if we talk England up we're deluded and arrogant, but if we look for the positives from improving performances we're pathetic for not having a winning mentality.
Posted 09:55 27th November 2012
lawynd says...
@chancer - don't be such an ungracious churl, people like you are exactly the reason this team (and country, to a certain extent) have a reputation for arrogance. The Hakka is one of the great traditions of rugby and what separates it from other sports, along with the ability in general of supporters from all countries and all walks of life to get on, have some banter and have a beer. I sincerely hope I never actually bump into a wazzock like you at Twickers.
Posted 09:47 27th November 2012
Propmelsey says...
Clive Woodward once said ... "Judge me on Englands results in the World Cup" he was talking about 1999 and if he'd been judged on that he'd have been SACKED!!! ... Luckily for us he was given more time and we won the Cup in 2003. Woodward is now yesterdays man in my opinion .... Stick with Lancaster ..... at the minute we have no leaders in the team ... but given time i think it's going to be a really strong squad ..... we've had 2 unlucky results this atumn ... but i'm of the opinion that if these current players can learn from their mistakes.. plus one or two to compliment the squad from 11 to 15 i do believe we'll be there or there abouts come the next World Cup.
Posted 09:37 27th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Chancer. Agree. And the first word of the NZ anthem is...
Posted 09:00 27th November 2012
chancer says...
Timofporiua:- Please confine your remarks to Rugby, our National Anthem is our business, unless of course you would like me to comment on your National Anthem and that absurd War dance that is performed and which you are all so sensitive about cited National Heritage. I just hope that the game on Saturday will progress with no England player being treated to NZ thuggery which of course will be ignored by the NZ rugby authorities as being just part of the game.
Posted 07:32 27th November 2012
AWEBLAX says...
Against New Zealand, nobody expects England to win, I'm a Kiwi and even I think that statements a bit harsh, sure this AllBlack team is pretty damn good but their are still flaws there and at the moment they seem to be cantering along at only 75%, perhaps its time for England to prove everybody wrong, honestly I hope they ABs win, but I'm not ready to write off England just yet.....
Posted 05:35 27th November 2012
Timofporirua says...
England, a nation that has given the world Shakespeare, Monty Python, the Beatles, etc, etc has so much more to offer the world in its rugby. If the aforementioned had settled for a safe approach, would we have read of "Sleep, oh gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse"; or laughed till we cried at the Dead Parrot sketch; or be transformed by Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band?
What's wrong with being creative? You may come a cropper some times, but one glorious victory (or even defeat) is surely worth more than a season of dross.
And England could start with their anthem. "God Save The Queen" is a dirge, and probably a waste of breath because there is no god. Use "Land of Hope and Glory". It's inspiring and might just spark the English team to aim for glory.
Posted 22:34 26th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
I saw the article they refer too re getting Sir Clive and Shaw back in. It also said Dalagglio as coach under SirC !! A few too many glasses of wine with his old mate LOL i would think. Daft proposals. Lancaster is is lowering the average age of the 20-30 cap player so he hits his prime at the same time he hits good experience. Around 2013/14. It is a big transition. I thought we were through it but i can understand why it's a long term plan than most changes of the guard who make a few tweaks. Why would you bring "the big I am" Woodward back in so he can build another house of cards..? LOL does not mean Lawrence Dalagllio any more does it Melk? lol. (thats the only time i use that fay expression!)
Posted 20:47 26th November 2012
herethere says...
Lets face it, England got beat by the Bok A team. Du Plessis, Vermeulen, JdJ, Pietersen aside. At home, trying to bounce back from the week previous against a side coming to end of a long spell of internationals.
The OB should demolish this England side. An a demolishing is what it needs.
I'd give Freddie Burns a start too. Honestly. Farrell has had his chance to show us all how average he is in-game. Father wasn't an attactive inspiration neither (man of steel, we're Farrell certainly get his goal kicking from). Our backs.... more a cultural thing perhaps. Ashton support play has been ignored by centres an forwards alike for so long, that when Tuilagi of all people found him on Saturday he died of shock an threw a pass he was probably sick of asking for for years in training. It you watch that over, Pietersen had actually given that race against Ashton up - just as he passed it.
Bring in Armitage, hell bring Sheridan in if Corbs has a knee issue. Starving them might be the only way to avoid an embarrassment.
Posted 20:30 26th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
england are over achieving if anything. punching well above their class
Posted 13:34 26th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
"The reaction is so astonishing because England are far from a team getting hammered every week - they are a team who continue to learn with every outing, making mistakes, but not without positives."
i think you will find that this is incorrect. hilarious article though clearly written by a delusional english fan. pissed myself when i saw the stats come out.
Posted 13:32 26th November 2012
dropkick says...
Reading English media talking up arguably the least talented, overpaid and ideas free England team in recent history is entertainment in its own right. Talk about clutching at straws. In their hamfisted attempts to play percentage rugby (at least I'm guessing that is what they are up to unless they train to drop every second pass) England have in their own unique fashion developed the highest risk game in world rugby. How many games have you seen England just lose (or win) by three points or less. This reliance on penalties and dropkicks means they can never convert any pressure or dominance into a handy lead. Note the ABs had the Welsh down by 33 at the 50 minute mark and could cruise to the finish line like Usain Bolt in the heats.
When was the last time you saw an English team win a game handily and going away quickly by scoring tries? Check out Youtube and you'll see some lovely BW footage of David Duckham playing some sublime rugby. Since then it has been pretty thin gruel. ABs by 20 and at least four tries to one/none.
Posted 12:54 26th November 2012
craigsman says...
Gotta say I completely agree with this. What do the various commentators (I am looking at you Austin Healey) expect? A return to red rosy days under Sir Clive? Oh but wait a minute his first 4 years were average.
England played ok on Saturday. No invention yet but they came out and played positively (welcome back Ben Morgan). Plus SL has unearthed more potential stars than MJ did in his whole term. When the EPS opens again I have no doubt that we'll see the like of Burns etc get a nod for the 6Ns.
I don't mind losing to the big 3 at this stage. This side requires time, patience and understanding from fans and pundits alike.
Posted 11:32 26th November 2012
artherfish says...
All tghe above sounds bang on to me. Its far to early to ditch SL and all he has achieved. I do still beleive he has much more to do though to get the team thinking and playing with flexability and not just reacting. interseting stat about relartive Caps, puts a diferent perspective on England and the Saffas both being young and equaly inexperienced argument.
Posted 10:42 26th November 2012