So here we
are, the Second Test is upon us and once again Stuart Lancaster’s men have a
huge task ahead of them, this time in Dunedin. The fact that it is a must win
game is something that we have all been clear about from the moment that
the final whistle blew at Eden Park however the starting XV for this match was
less of a certainty. Throughout the week speculation was rife regarding a
few key selection decisions and the following questions were debated at large;
should Manu head out to the wing? Does Ben Morgan deserve to be dropped? Who should
start in the Second Row? These questions and more divided opinions and that meant that
when the team was announced today at 11.15pm on Wednesday (11th) it was greeted by a mixed reception!!
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| Billy is back! |
Stuart
Lancaster has thrown in the curveball, Rugby World phrased it perfectly when
they said ‘New Zealand have chosen to stick, whilst England have decided to
twist’. Manu Tuilagi will start on the wing, Yarde moves across to the other
and Manu makes way for the centre partnership of a fit again Billy Twelvetress
and Luther Burrell. Danny Care is back, Ben Morgan retains his place and Tom
Wood enters the starting line up. Now the greatest debate is of course around Manu
Tuilagi’s move to the wing... there are those that think this is the best way
to go and there are others that think this ridiculous. Personally I am going to
withhold judgement and simply wait and see... Stuart Lancaster and his team know
what they are doing, I believe that this talented England side is in great
hands and it isn’t for me to make their selection decisions for them. The
movement of Manu to the wing is a gamble, in the First Test he made 84m and
carried 14 times... those stats are unlikely to be replicated out
wide however his contribution could be just as significant if he delivers in
terms of tries. Up front the pack remains
the same... Graham Rowntree has put his faith in the front three of Marler, Webber
and Wilson and said to all of his forwards; ‘you smashed their house up once,
now go and do it again’. A beautifully
simple yet thoroughly effective game plan!! Finally England’s bench is filled with impact in particular that
of Courtney Lawes, Dylan Hartley and Billy Vunipola, what a trio to be able to
bring on after 60 minutes!
At
this point in June 2014 it is a hugely exciting time to be an England Rugby fan, it
isn't just the fact that England are playing with a greater level of precision
and attacking intent, it is also their attitude off the pitch it that has should
excite us all. Chris Robshaw and his men are more focused and driven than ever
before, their desire and determination to achieve their full potential every
single time they step onto the pitch was shown by their reaction to last
weekend's loss at Eden Park. In the post match press interviews you’ll have
noticed that not a single player was satisfied with their side’s performance in spite of it being a very strong one. Instead every man said they wanted to be judged on the result alone and that result was
a loss, a failure. As we race towards next year's World Cup comparisons with
the squad of 2003 are inevitable and whilst times have changed slightly I make
no apologises for comparing the two both now and in the months to come. On the
field Martin Johnson's 2003 squad were phenomenally fit, they had a monumental
desire to win and the belief that they could do so, against anyone. Last
Saturday it was plain for all to see that England already have two of these
three critical elements... fitness (in spite of what the Kiwi press think) and
desire, what is missing is the unconditional belief. Speaking to the press this week Joe Marler confirmed this when he said ‘Saturday helped us
to think, ‘Actually, we can go toe to toe with these guys’. When you break it
down, they are 15 blokes on a field trying to do the same as you.’ Collective
belief stems from closing out games like that First Test and whilst that didn't
happen, a win on Saturday would go some way towards building this vital piece
of the England puzzle.
Now we all know that the All Blacks will step up their game this weekend, the whip will have been cracked in training, moves will have been tightened up and a focus on intensity and clinical execution will have been discussed. With the cobwebs dusted off, Ben Smith’s movement to Full Back, the prolific Julian Savea back with his impressive 19 tries in 20 tests record and Kieran Reid returning to the field things just became very, very serious for England.
For Stuart Lancaster’s side winning this weekend in Dunedin is imperative, in terms of this particular series and in terms of this talented side's progression and development. Stuart has made the bold selection calls and now his side must deliver on the pitch. England must play with intensity, they must stifle Hanson's side from early on and importantly they must not be afraid. Once again it is another monumental challenge, in the words of Henry Fraser ‘the greater the challenge, the greater we become’ and winning this weekend’s Second Test would be another important step towards greatness for this England side.
