A step in the right direction
Posted on 07/02/2010England's victory at Twickenham got their Six Nations campaign off to a much-needed win; Johnno's attacking line-up had the desired effect, but the performance was far from perfect, and there is still a long way to go, writes Stuart Barnes in The Times
This was the result Martin Johnson desired but not the performance. In the first 30 minutes it was hard to know whether England planned to batter or bore Wales to defeat. It was sturdy but second-rate stuff in terms of international rugby.All this despite the management urging the England players to liberate themselves from the proscriptive chains which choked them through the autumn; the crowd were agitated with their turgid play and the men wandered around as if blinded by the light of freedom after a long stretch in rugby’s version of solitary confinement.
Gary Kasparov was once asked how many moves in advance he planned, to which he answered — to paraphrase the chess Grand Master — “look too far ahead and you will miss the obvious”. So too with England; a little less science and some more poetry would improve the balance. This would create a far more ambitious and dynamic driving game, which will be required against teams lacking the lemming-like rugby instincts displayed by Wales. Charging rather than dawdling would give the backs a chance to operate going forward.
Quick ball will prove the acid test for Jonny Wilkinson, whose ability to ignite the midfield remains as debatable as his Test goal-kicking is unquestionable. Delivery of the ball is too slow through his hands and his tactical kicking is shoddy. The hesitancy he engenders outside him, allied with the lack of drive from the front five (for whom Dylan Hartley was an outstanding exception) allowed Wales back into the game.
If not for the petty Alun Wyn Jones trip (England won the yellow card session 17-0) and the Tom James dropped pass on the line, this could have been another awful day for England. Care and Easter were two plusses but despite victory the negatives held sway.
They have the win but to keep winning they must improve substantially from yesterday. In terms of freshening up the team the options are few but experimentation is required. Neither Ben Foden nor Chris Ashton are finished articles but Rome next Sunday is an ideal place for Johnson to try and up the English pace.
The Observer's Eddie Butler praised the role of captain Steve Borthwick in a team performance vastly improved on England's dire autumn internationals. A step in the right direction yes, but Butler believes there is still a long way to go before they can start patting themselves on the back.
England started their Six Nations with a performance to put a smile on the face of their manager, Martin Johnson. Having snarled all week at any suggestion that an upturn of the lips had a place on the international rugby field, he nevertheless celebrated his team's three tries, two by flanker James Haskell and one for scrum-half Danny Care.This was not a carefree performance by England, but it was less mournful than their autumn series. The boos that had rung around Twickenham in November gave way to sincere cheers. This was a good win well-received, not a complete performance by any means, but a decent foundation stone. It was not without it twists and turns, and even had a full scare, going on long enough to allow Wales to rally in the second half.
England had opened with an emphasis on a passing game, but they, too, tended to throw an inaccurate pass at the wrong moment. In truth, this was not a game of the highest quality, but for the victors falling rust may lead to the body of players gleaming by the end of March.
If Wilkinson, an old hero, showed up well, there was also a fine performance from England's captain, Steve Borthwick, who does not often enjoy flattering reviews. But he did fine spoiling work at the lineout and made one particularly fine steal in open play.
Nothing reduces the heat on a captain like a victory, but throw in a striking individual display and Borthwick can almost bask in the glow.
He is not exactly the type to suggest that he is going to do anything but take it one game at a time, but his mood must be happier. A smile is still not yet part of the England rugby vocabulary, but their captain can at least say that this would do for starters.