Six Nations - England v Italy Review

It’s fair to say that when Eddie Jones said that he wanted his side to ‘take Italy to the cleaners’ most of us believed that they would. Predictions of a 30 or 40 point victory were common and really only those inside the Italian camp thought differently. Yet, instead of a breezy victory England were embroiled in what looked to have been their most frustrating game under Eddie Jones however it's one that I believe will hold them in good stead moving forwards. 

In the time that has elapsed since the match, and indeed during it, I don’t think that I heard or seen the word ‘ruck’ so much. Ruck gate, ruck in a teacup, zero ruck, anti ruck are all phrases that have been prominent since minute 11 on Sunday afternoon when Italy showed their hand. Needless to say the Azzurri arrived with an ace up their sleeve and one that highlights the astute rugby brains that are trying to lead them into better times. It was a card that not only frustrated England on the field but I believe frustrated England’s head coach considerably too. 

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Much has been discussed about Eddie Jones’ reaction the tactic that Italy employed and here’s my thoughts on this. So often England’s head coach has talked about his side making decisions on the field and changing the course of matches on the hoof. England found this to be a challenge in the opening half against Italy and I believe that he will have been both disappointed at their reaction time and also potentially annoyed that this may not have been a secnario that they accounted for in training. Eddie Jones is a perfectionist, he prepares his team meticiulously yet it appears to the naked eye that Italy throw in an unexpected curveball and that wouldn't sit well with the Australian. Also, positive rugby is what the Australian thrives on and clearly in his mind Italy’s actions didn’t provide that. Needless to say England's head coach was always going to speak his mind afterwards - he does this after every game - and the combination of both of the above factors lead to his direct analysis. He didn't think it was rugby and perhaps didn't hail the opposition's thinking in the way that some may have thought he should. Is that wrong? Well no because it's his opinion and we're all entitled to our own. 

So what of those challenges that England experienced in the first half? Well, criticism has flown various players’ way regarding their individual discussions with Romain Poite and reaction to what was in front of them and I personally don’t think that’s wholly fair. Hindsight and the outward perspective that you gain from a sofa at home or a seat in the stands makes such a strange situation much easier to analyse and adapt to. However in the heat of a battle and being faced by such an anomaly then amendments are often easier said than done. Without question an earlier adaption from England would have been ideal - as would fewer penalties and individual mistakes in the opening half - yet let’s not forget that over the course of the 80 minutes the right path was found and the bonus-point secured. As a result England remain poised for the Grand Slam and they will continue to develop as a side - an experience like Sunday’s will be of benefit moving forwards and you can bet your bottom dollar that Scotland will confront them with completely different tactics come the 11th March. 

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Finally a word on Italy, as I mentioned earlier their tactical nous and approach to the game shows that they have individuals in charge that are astute and innovative. Conor O’Shea and his team realise that they need to be smart in their approach and engage their players with new thinking. The question I have is what next? Ruck gate isn’t likely to work each time so it will be up to those involved in the set-up to continue to evolve and we will all be interested to see their output against France. 

Sunday’s Test match was one of the most intriguing that I’ve seen in a while and I do believe that the analysis of it will continue for a good few days to come. Next England turn their attentions to Scotland and personally I cannot wait for that game. We all wondered if Glasgow’s and Edinburgh’s success in the European competition would transfer onto the Six Nations stage and it has. Vern Cotter’s team are in a confident and will ignite England to raise their game. I expect to see a ‘conventional’ game of rugby played on the Twickenham turf and I expect it to be the most intense and hotly contested Calcutta Cup that we’ve seen in years.