If there is one lesson to learn from the Six Nations, it is that dynamism has replaced the kicking ideology into which England slipped after being booted out of the World Cup by South Africa. England have to play with more tempo.
The Autumn report was positive. Hopes were high but England have undoubtedly struggled to maintain the improvement from November. Going into the Six Nations, I thought England the best of the three outside France and Ireland. On the balance of evidence that remains the case but the big two have stretched away from England.
There is 18 months until the World Cup. Do England have time to develop a team to challenge France, in particular, in 2023, either in the Six Nations or World Cup? Let's try and be positive. The team won against Wales before losing at home to Ireland. Yet I was happier with the England performance after the Ireland game. The 2nd minute sending off of Charlie Ewels was a hammer blow. It's impossible to say with any knowledge what might have happened if only....but we do know England probably would not have tired quite as much as they did.
The forwards showed a ferocity in the set piece, an accuracy in the line out that will be required if they are to get back to the top table in time. Ellis Genge had a mighty tournament and sets the example for the rest of the squad. He gave Ireland all sorts of problems in the scrum. In Paris, a week later, he was being employed as a kick receiver. The move lacked much in the way of disguise, but the loose head charged for all he was worth, giving some of the world's best defenders headaches, such as his flattening of Gael Fickou, early in the game. He was England's shining light.
If he was England's player of the tournament, Maro Itoje delivered the individual English performance of the competition a man down against Ireland. True, Ireland had lost their lock, James Ryan in the red card incident but even so, here was a titanic performance. Definitely something for England fans to hang onto in hope.
There's no point pretending this was a good tournament for the Red Rose. The post tournament upbeat report was, unsurprisingly, greeted with some degree of derision, but bad as the results were (2 wins from 5 in consecutive years) there is reason for optimism – if Eddie Jones gets his selection and tactics right for the rest of the calendar year.
The three-test tour of Australia and the Autumn’s are vital if England are to gain ground on their main European rivals. It is time to bid farewell to Ben Youngs. There is no doubting the loyalty of his service to England but he is a dragging presence on a team that cannot find the speed of service from the breakdown to match the best.
If England seek to keep up with the French, they need the guile of Marcus Smith. And Marcus Smith needs a scrum half with the upbeat tempo and speed of service we witnessed from Antoine Dupont of Ireland and Jamison Gibson-Park of Ireland. Raffi Quirke and Alex Mitchell should be given a chance to see whether they or Harry Randall are the men for France 2023.
England were eventually overwhelmed by the French pack but here's another area for some
optimism. Nick Isiekwe is a fine prospect but England need to shift this tournament's captain – when he was fit - Courtney Lawes, into the second row and opt for more pace and power. Alex Dombrandt hasn't yet won the full trust of the England manager. Jones needs to believe in him. There is an absence of ballast in the back line that makes it imperative to have a hefty ball carrier in the back row. The Harlequin No, 8 is not only big, he is a tremendously gifted player with superb running lines. Before Covid cost him his place against Ireland, he was making steady progress.
Tom Curry was hugely missed as well. His fire was never more needed than for the French game. A fit Curry will boost England immediately, especially if his 2019 World Cup mate, Sam Umderhill, can stay fit. On the back foot in Paris, he grew into the game with second half turnovers and some terrific tackles. Here's a trio that could emerge as a world class unit.
Other men missed included Exeter's Luke Cowan-Dickie. He was Eddie Jones's first choice pick ahead of Jamie George when injury ruled him out of the campaign. These are two top notch hookers. Whichever one starts, the other can come off the bench and guarantee eighty minutes of excellence.
England fans at Twickenham for the Ireland game would have witnessed Jones not emptying the bench even though the home side played the game a man down.
Owen Farrell was absent throughout. Some see the results and his absence as proof of the captain's indispensable nature. I am not so sure. He is very good at carrying out his coaches’ plan but in 2021 this led England to an equally disappointing won 2 lost 3 scenario, without the benefit of at least trying to add something fresh to the game.
Henry Slade and Joe Marchant were an improving combination in the centre as well. The absence of Jonny May and Anthony Watson deprived them of their best finishers. These are more reasons for hope.
The England report card is a disappointing 4 out of 10. England has too much strength in depth to accept three losses whatever the situation. But with more snap and independent decision making at half back and a back row to live with the best waiting to be united, England shouldn't be dismissed just yet.
