Rugby Union | Blogs | Paper Round

February 4, 2012

The Daily Mail's Martin Samuel backs England's new youthful look ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

Brad Barritt went round the room shaking hands before he sat down to speak. Phil Dowson used the word ‘sanguine’ to describe the mood of his coaches at Northampton. Owen Farrell insisted he would walk into the maelstrom of Murrayfield with a smile on his face.
And throughout there remained the impression that this reconfigured England side will be lucky to get out of Edinburgh Airport without having their cab money nicked, let alone return from Scotland’s fortress with a first win in eight years.

It was 2004 when England last won at Murrayfield. They haven’t even scored a try since. There is the counter-argument. England have travelled north since that day with teams that have been honoured by the Queen, experienced, storied groups of men peppered with OBEs, CBEs and MBEs, and all they have come back with is ABA. Absolutely bugger all. So why not go with youth?

Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell will form a new centre partnership for England
© Getty Images

Expect the unexpected

Posted 7 minutes ago

Former England head coach Brian Ashton previews this year's Six Nations tournament in the Independent.

"The wheels on the international bandwagon rarely stop rolling for long: the post-World Cup 2011 era has barely started, yet we are already thinking of the 15 matches that will make up the 2012 Six Nations Championship.
"There is always a nagging feeling that because of the imbalance of fixtures – some countries play three games at home, others only two – the outcome will not be a definitive reflection of the strengths of the teams involved.

"There will be no doubting the level of passion, however. Apart from the unexpected, the one thing we can safely expect is complete, no-holds-barred commitment."

Talking tactics

Posted 10 minutes ago

Former France defence coach Dave Ellis gives his tactical take on each Six Nations team in the Guardian.

"England’s attacking game will be based around centre Brad Barritt. He will be charged with using his size to get them over the gain line.
"Then, if the ball is recycled at sufficient pace, Charlie Hodgson and Owen Farrell (who will also be comfortable filling in at first receiver) can attempt to unleash their pacy back three at defences on the back foot. For this to work England will need to show more mongrel at the breakdown than they have recently, and more discipline in the tackle area.

"For so long England’s pack was their strongest suit but the back three looks the most dangerous unit now. If any of England’s opponents kick loosely towards them, then Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and David Strettle will run it back with interest."

Turn up pressure on young English

Posted 13 minutes ago

"Playing against an inexperienced or experimental side, it is almost always important to exert pressure on them early on. The longer the game remains even, the more likely it is that they will gain in confidence and cohesion. So one would look to see Scotland seeking to impose themselves and to prevent England from settling into a pattern of play.
"It will be important to compete at the breakdown as Ireland did so successfully against England in Dublin last March. There is a tendency in the English Premiership for teams to commit very few players to the breakdown, preferring to stand off and keep a strong defensive line in being. If England do indeed play like that, one would hope to see the Scottish forwards taking the ball through the middle and then looking to off-load.

"Dave Ellis, who used to be France’s defensive coach, this week called Scotland “the most efficient side in the Six Nations. Their ability to keep hold of the ball for phase after phase is staggering”. Of course, it is what we don’t manage to do at the end of these phases that accounts for our failure to score as many tries as our build-up suggests we should."

Stormy waters for Wales?

Posted 19 minutes ago

On Walesonline Gwyn Jones fears for Wales ahead of their opening Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin on Sunday.

"Winning the first game of the Six Nations is always vital to set up momentum for the rest of the tournament, but sadly, I fear Wales will lose in Dublin tomorrow.
"If so, on this occasion everything is still not lost, given we have three home games to come and a match away to an in-transition England side.

"It would be great if Wales were to eke out a victory at the Aviva Stadium and I’m sure that Warren Gatland and his players will settle for nothing other than that.

"But, provided we produce a competitive performance, and the wheels do not come off completely as they have done in the past in Dublin, there will not be any disgrace in a narrow defeat."

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/02/04/gwyn-jones-column-i-fear-for-wales-in-six-nations-clash-with-ireland-91466-30262554/#ixzz1lPAf4WKT

Rebel recruits impress

Posted 24 minutes ago

Stathi Paxinos reports for the Syndey Morning Herald on the Melbourne Rebels' pre-season preparation as they faced the Chiefs in a friendly in Geelong.

"Kurtley Beale showed glimpses of what the Melbourne Rebels faithful hope to see this Super Rugby season when the Wallabies full-back provided some of the rare moments of excitement in the team's 36-0 loss to the Chiefs in the year's first pre-season game last night in Geelong.
"At first glance the scoreline, with the Rebels giving up six tries, could give the impression that last year's wooden-spooners could be in for another hard season, but fellow star recruit James O'Connor disagreed. ''A trial game's [just] a trial game''.

"Beale excited the crowd with a couple of line busts and runs from full-back and, after playing about 30 minutes, declared that his troublesome hamstring, which he injured at last year's World Cup, had held up during the game."

February 3, 2012

Sarries will provide England's cutting edge

Posted 23 hours, 19 minutes ago

Brendan Venter has backed the likes of Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell to shine on the Six Nations stage © Getty Images

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Saracens' technical director Brendan Venter backs his players to make an impact for England this weekend.

"Charlie Hodgson, Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt were first forced together as a midfield trio when Sarries were struggling with Rugby World Cup call-ups and injuries at the beginning of the season. But the strength of their characters, and the form they showed together, demanded they continue to be selected as a unit, even when players returned.
"Lancaster’s two-month interview for the England job relies purely on results. And the quickest way for him to get results is to back players he trusts, and combinations that he knows already operate to a high standard.

"Saracens are second in the league and in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup so Lancaster knows that Hodgson, Farrell and Barritt are part of a winning environment. Every time they start together the team is bolstered by a wonderful blend of athleticism, rugby know-how and competitiveness."

Remember how this felt

Posted 23 hours, 27 minutes ago

The Irish Independent's Hugh Farrelly offers a timely reminder of a painful day in the Ireland-Wales rivalry.

"The upshot was that when the game kicked off, Wales, with a team that the Irish players beat for kicks on a regular basis at club level, had the mental advantage. They played above themselves, their best performance of the tournament, while Ireland could not hit earlier heights.
"Even when the Irish brought the score back to 10-10 just after half-time, there was never any sure sense that they would kick on and their insecurities manifested themselves in uncharacteristically poor defending for the Mike Phillips and Jon Davies tries. Four months on, the pain of that experience, a massive opportunity squandered, has not diminished.

"One nagging question that will not go away, and one that was painted as a likely scenario in pre-tournament predictions, is whether Ireland would have been better served by losing to Australia and going into a quarter-final against the Springboks as complete underdogs -- the ideal scenario for Kidney to work his magic."

Ford grateful for All Blacks' influence

Posted 23 hours, 33 minutes ago

Scotland captain Ross Ford has revealed a debt of gratitude to the All Blacks rugby establishment as he prepares to lead his team for the first time in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with England at Murrayfield. The Scotsman's Bill Lothian reports.

"Back in 2009 hooker Ford, then 24, was given the opportunity to be mentored under the Winning Scotland Foundation programme by Sean Fitzpatrick whose 92 caps for New Zealand included 51 as captain while one-time Kiwi assistant coach Tony Gilbert is another who has aided his development.
"Recalls Ford: “I spoke to Sean Fitzpatrick a couple of times and learned a few good things from him. At that point it was mostly about my game rather than leadership but he did put a few things across to the effect that it was about leading by example.

“Sean told me he felt as captain he had to do more than anybody else in games. I met him and person and we talked on the telephone. I found him a very engaging man who, when he speaks, doesn’t shout or roar. He came across as very level-headed in his judgments. I like that approach."

Healey gives Wales no hope

Posted 23 hours, 35 minutes ago

Former England international Austin Healey does not fancy Wales' chances in this year's Six Nations - the Western Mail's Andy Howell reports.

"I think Wales will struggle in this championship because how the fixtures fall is bad for them,” was Healey’s assessment.
"That will raise eyebrows because many believe Wales will prosper on the back of the World Cup and because they have Scotland, Italy and France at the Millennium Stadium.

"But Healey argued: “Going to Dublin to face the Irish in their first game is really tough. I can’t see Wales winning that one.

"The Irish are flying; they’ve got three teams through to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup and have a strong squad. I’m expecting Ireland to beat Wales by at least 14 points. Put me on the spot and I’d say 27-9 because the Irish players have been doing so well in Europe."