Here we are in the post Eddie Jones era. With the Rugby World Cup steaming up on the horizon there were few expectations of radical change. Time was ticking against that. But the England side was expected to tighten its set piece under the meticulous management of new head coach Steve Borthwick. The dying embers of the Eddie era had seen something close to a collapse of the England set piece; England's traditional core strength. By the end of disappointing Guinness Six Nations campaign on the scoreboard, England were able to put in a defiant performance against Grand Slam Ireland in Dublin with their scrum and line out standing up to comparison with the world's Number One rated side.
This was more than mere consolation. A week earlier we witnessed a demolition at the hands of France. England were roundly condemned for their performance but I prefer to think of that day at Twickenham as a privilege. Much as it might stick in the craw of an Englishman, France were wonderful. It was a pleasure to see the power and precision of their game from 1-15. They were my tip for the Rugby World Cup before the Guinness Six Nations started. They remain so despite Ireland's superlative Grand Slam.
Whether England can catch up with this pair and South Africa is debatable but the final game suggested that there will be plenty of improvement. Scotland are rated above England. They beat Borthwick's team in the opening game of the campaign at Twickenham. The match will be remembered for the remarkable Duhan van der Merwe's solo score. The visitors deserved the victory but some of the play from England had promise. Max Malins was a threat from the wing. There were moments.
But alas, teams are inevitably rated by the result not the performance. That made the round two visit of Italy arguably the most important England game against Italy for some time. The management started the campaign with Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell in the 10/12 slot. For Italy Borthwick made the call to bench the Harlequin.
Into the 12 position came Ollie Lawrence. The Bath centre made a considerable impact on his return to the international arena. He carried with impact and provided England with the sort of front foot ball badly missing for a few years. His injury later in the Guinness Six Nations was unfortunate but here is a player who can add that extra dynamic to the England midfield.
Jack Willis was another selection who made a difference. His was a powerful performance at the breakdown, capped with a try. He was also notable in Dublin. Here is a flanker who has it in him to be up there with the very best. Ollie Chessum was another England forward playing well. His try from a deft Ellis Genge offload a sign of the subtlety to go with the anticipated extra power. His long term injury is a substantial blow. Fingers crossed in his race against time for France.
A brief digression; there is a natural replacement in the 2nd row. Joe Launchbury, currently in Japan is a natural for the side. He is a master of the driving maul. Pretty it may not be but Borthwick will work on this English asset hard ahead of France. Jamie George's 11 man driving line out try in Dublin is a hint of what is to come. A fit Courtney Lawes is another reason for optimism as England work their way back into the top tier of forward based sides.
But returning to the home game against France, we were given a sharp reminder that the future of test match rugby requires size, speed, strength and skill. France were mesmerising and I fear England have to open their minds to the way the game is going rather than where it has been. Another player who helps in the quest for extra dynamism is Zach Mercer. The former Bath back row forward is one of the highest regarded back rowers in the Top 14. He is back in England with Gloucester next season. It will be a major disappointment if he is not part of the Rugby World Cup package alongside Alex Dombrandt. The Harlequin divides opinion but few doubt he has an extra dimension of skills.
What is questioned is the shape he is in. Fitness – or lack of it – has been a recent talking point. With the highly rated Aled Walters (involved in the South African 2019 management) joining from Leicester Tigers at the end of the club season, England will expect to strip substantially fitter in France.
PS At the end of that game I stood in the press box and applauded France. We shouldn't be blind to the quality of a team, even if it is `the wrong nation.'
Smith was fly half for the French match with Farrell on at centre around the 50 minute mark. It may be the last start for the Harlequin for a while. Benched against Ireland it was interesting to note he didn't come off the bench, even when England fell behind and needed to chase the game.
Farrell is the selection for a traditional style and it is probably too late to experiment with a new captain (with the possible exception of Lawes) but England need to maintain an ability to play a different way.
Borthwick is a smart coach, he is detailed and determined. England – with more time still together – will be immeasurably improved by the Rugby World Cup. Hopefully they will use the Summer Series games, Wales and the fabulous Fijians are visiting Twickenham, to hone a game plan that will have an alternate style if the expected basic plan isn't working. There has been no magic wand waved in the last few months but that's not the England manager's style. This will be a team of hard graft come the Rugby World Cup.
They might not find games easy to win but nor will they be easy to beat.
