So this weekend saw the opening to the Six nations. And what a weekend it was. some great games with some big talking points.
Lets start with England V France in Paris. England came to the French capital confident of getting the victory over the French side, In recent years France have had mixed results against the English and the last time these two teams met England where much the dominate side. However that was a year ago and a lot has changed , England had a good world cup making the final and playing some brilliant rugby on the way, only to fall at the final hurdle and be beaten by a brilliant South African side.
The French had a good world cup and showed that they are again a team to be taken seriously on the international stage. And with the French having changed there coaches and set up, could this be the year we see a dangerous French side back in the Six Nations.
Well the way the game was played and won by the French it would be hard to argue that the changes they have made have not been for the best.
Going back over the game you can really see the Shaun Edwards defensive structure come to the forefront of how they played. France have built their new game plan around the defence. Getting up into the English players faces quickly and closing the space down early England where forced to move bad ball and where pushed back and back. When the English runners took the ball on at close quarters they where hit back by brilliant physical hits. The French held off from committing players to the ruck area and if there was the opportunity to turn ball over it was done by 1 or 2 players. With this type of defence in play it aloud the French to match up across the back line and have equal or more defenders than attackers. This was how they controlled and won the game.
The back line was very effective with good selections made across the line and playing players in the correct positions helped keep structure and kept errors down to a minimum.
With Dupont having a brilliant game and showing why he is one of the best scrum half's in the game at the moment, he controlled the pack well and his service from the base was good to half back partner Ntamack . The fly half had a great all round game, kicking was world class and his game management and distribution to the outside backs was accurate and quick. Centre partnership Vakatawa and Fickou offer a dangerous mix of speed and power and where able to break the English defensive line on multiple occasions. Then you add the pace and skill of the back three, with Rattez, Thomas and Bouthier, the French have a great balance across the back line and with the new attack structure brought in by the coaching staff they are looking to be a dangerous attacking threat.
The French Forwards offer the same balance of speed and power , not to mention a brilliant skill set. Lead by new captain Ollivon who was inspired against England the French offer a genuine threat to any team and if they keep improving on the game against England it would be hard to see any of the other teams beating them in the Six Nations.
The English where poor, lets just be honest. Eddie Jones talked the French down and England up in the media, he chose not to select players in there key positions and he has not changed the game plan.
England went into the French game the same way they did the world cup final they underestimated the opposition.
The Team Jones selected was almost insulting to the French. Starting players for there debut against the French in Paris is not smart. Furbank is a great player but was not in the same league on Sunday, he was found wanting a few times in the game, and although it was his first cap and he would of been nervous , it is international rugby he needs to be able to get over those nerves and be better.
Playing Curry at 8 was not a good move as he was not able to be as effective as he is from the Flank, Jones needs to look at bringing in a out and out number 8 for the rest of the competition and allow Curry and Underhill to do what they did in the world cup and work together to disrupt ball.
Willi Heinz and Ben Youngs? Poor selection with these two players. No thought of England's future at scrum half.
No pace around the break down and to slow to move the ball.
Once Tuilagi was taken off England offered no real threat to the French defence and ran out of ideas when trying to break them down.
Farrell had a off day and was not at his best, i would say part of that was due to the French putting to much pressure on the English attack.
It was typical England, no plan B , they just kept doing the same thing over and over without trying to change anything. Jones needs to be able to develop a plan B and be able to have players on the field to implement it when needed. Again we saw Jones stick to his timings with the replacement players, sticking to around the 50-60 minute mark. Why does Jones refuse to make changes before this moment. England where out of the game with 20 minutes. Jones should of made changes earlier.
The other point is England played the same way they did last Six Nations, this is top level rugby you have top change the way you structure the game. Jones has new coaches and new players. Why is he still playing the same way. All the other teams across the Six Nations have changed the way they play the game. Jones needs to make changes and fast.
In my opinion England need a New 9 ,8 and a better more effective attacking threat and structure in the back line. Scotland will love it if we turn up to Murryfield and play like that , Scotland will win unless big improvements are made both on and off the field for England.
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