Sport has the ability to take your breath away, it leaves you mesmerised, enraptured and enthralled and it evokes the most intense feelings of emotion.
Any rugby fan that watched yesterday's Test from Cardiff - particularly those with loyalties to either England or Wales - will tell you that the above statement is true. There will be some that believe that I’ve gone a little overboard with my assessment and thrown in a description that's a little too 'fluffy' however I do believe that the majority of you will join me in my thoughts.
England and Wales were embroiled in a classic that will live long in all of our memories. Both sides pushed themselves to the limits, and beyond, and it took 76 minutes for one to find a crack in the other's armoury.
England and Wales were embroiled in a classic that will live long in all of our memories. Both sides pushed themselves to the limits, and beyond, and it took 76 minutes for one to find a crack in the other's armoury.
As ever Eddie Jones’ post match assessment hit all of the key nails on the head. After admitting that they had used up all of their ‘get out of jail cards’ he highlighted two great things that he witnessed from his side; their first and last 20 minutes and their grit.
England’s grit is the area that I want to touch on for a moment because it's a vital weapon in their armoury now and something that has been building for a while. This week there was a real focus on the psychological aspects that arise with a trip to Cardiff and as we saw out there on the park England took it all in their stride.
Prior to the Australian’s era true steel wasn't always there for England instead occasions would arise when it waned at key moments and matches were lost. Now, with such a run of victories in the bank, the characters that are thriving in the squad and the direction provided by Eddie Jones this England side are mentally rock solid and it's making a difference.
Post match in Cardiff England's head coach said that they have ‘got characters in there that don’t know how to be beaten’ and these are characters that aren't even close to being satisfied with what they're achieving right now. They're driven beyond belief and know how much more there is to come from this group. In short having this mental resilience and edge is adding greatly to the physical qualities being developed on the training field as well and both are propelling England forwards. You expect that at some point in time this team will lose a Test match and then we will see another aspect to their resilience arise and that their ability to take defeat on the chin and learn from it. But, I doubt that will be during their next outing!
Prior to the Australian’s era true steel wasn't always there for England instead occasions would arise when it waned at key moments and matches were lost. Now, with such a run of victories in the bank, the characters that are thriving in the squad and the direction provided by Eddie Jones this England side are mentally rock solid and it's making a difference.
Post match in Cardiff England's head coach said that they have ‘got characters in there that don’t know how to be beaten’ and these are characters that aren't even close to being satisfied with what they're achieving right now. They're driven beyond belief and know how much more there is to come from this group. In short having this mental resilience and edge is adding greatly to the physical qualities being developed on the training field as well and both are propelling England forwards. You expect that at some point in time this team will lose a Test match and then we will see another aspect to their resilience arise and that their ability to take defeat on the chin and learn from it. But, I doubt that will be during their next outing!
Once again it was the power of the 23 that ensured that England prevailed as the bench added new dimensions to the match. Every week England's head coach makes it very clear that in his side he has ‘starters’ and he has ‘finishers’ and yet I still see people gently mocking those words on social media and find myself asking why? Yes tradition and history says that those that aren't strong enough to start are placed on the bench however in this side the Australian has made it clear that the two sets of individuals are just performing different roles. As we all saw England’s first replacement arrived after just 45 minutes and from thereon six others moulded and shaped the latter stages with distinction.
If I can, allow me to just shift my focus for a minute and deliver a word on Wales because boy did they play their part in the encounter. On home soil we witnessed a Welsh side playing better rugby than we’ve seen from them in a while. Against intense opposition Wales showed the strides that they are wanting to make under Rob Howley and clicked in all areas. From the physical pack driven by Alun Wyn Jones' leadership and the outstanding Ross Moriarty to the sharpness of Liam and Scott Williams it worked and without question holds them in good stead for their trip to Scotland and beyond.
Back to England and word on a few of their major players - Owen Farrell, Joe Launchbury and George Ford. The dynamic that the first and the latter provide in England's midfield is outstanding and the envy of many a nation. The inside centre's final pass to Elliot Daly was top draw and throughout England's fly-half showed the range of his distribution and vision. They make England tick, they run the show and constantly drive the standards. It's a partnership that may has starter as an interim measure but it's one that now delivers so much on every. And, what about Joe Launchbury? Industrious, super human and the ultimate athlete. The lock isn't flashy, he isn't exuberant, on or off the field, but he's just a great, great rugby player with an engine that never ceases. 20 tackles, 4 lineouts won and 18 carries are his top-line statistics... his name isn't in many people's Lions discussions but you know if given an opportunity he'd thrive in that jersey too.
So what now for England? First and foremost the focus will be on getting their bodies back to something resembling normal - 'a human ice-pack' was the description of Courtney Lawes post game - and this fallow week from Test rugby is needed. Once the squad are recovered physically then it will be about getting the balance right between continuing to drive training forwards while giving both their bodies and minds a rest.
So what now for England? First and foremost the focus will be on getting their bodies back to something resembling normal - 'a human ice-pack' was the description of Courtney Lawes post game - and this fallow week from Test rugby is needed. Once the squad are recovered physically then it will be about getting the balance right between continuing to drive training forwards while giving both their bodies and minds a rest.
While still under the lights of the Principality Stadium Eddie Jones made his team's next task clear and that is to 'take Italy to the cleaners'. It's a blunt, to the point and correct objective from Eddie Jones. Back at Twickenham Stadium personnel tweaks may arrive, finishers may become starters but the objective is clear it's onwards and upwards.
Saturday's Test match in Cardiff was a showcase of two sides at the very top of their game. Outstanding athletes duelled for 80 minutes and did so with two passionate nations willing on their every move. In short it was a proper Test match and one that will go down in RBS Six Nations history as one of the very best.
Saturday's Test match in Cardiff was a showcase of two sides at the very top of their game. Outstanding athletes duelled for 80 minutes and did so with two passionate nations willing on their every move. In short it was a proper Test match and one that will go down in RBS Six Nations history as one of the very best.
