As an international head coach, there comes a time when you have to nail your colours to the mast on selection and then stick to your guns.
On paper, I do understand the changes Steve Borthwick has made to his side for Saturday’s Le Crunch.
England badly, badly need a win against France. Softer hearts will say England are not at the same level of France, that we are at a different stage in our development (oh how I hate that word!), and will therefore accept merely a good performance and not solely a win as a result.
I know that will not be the attitude of anyone in the England dressing room. Borthwick and his players will be hurting and will be desperate to win.
After the loss in Ireland, France at home is the best possible next opponent. This is no time for England to feel sorry for themselves, find excuses, or hide.
One of my favourite phrases that adorned the walls of the England training camps and dressing room when I was coach was: ‘England Expects.’ It gives me goosebumps now just thinking about what those two words mean to me and the motivation that simple idea gave us to win.
England’s players will be hurting after defeat to Ireland and desperate to win this weekend
England put up a strong fight against Ireland but eventually the dam broke at the Aviva Stadium
This is no time for England to feel sorry for themselves, find excuses, or hide – but instead move on to Twickenham
When you’re losing matches at Test level, the temptation is to make either wholesale changes or little tweaks here and there. Borthwick is doing the latter. It’s not like he’s ripping up his side from week to week and starting again.
But my view is it would go a long way to England being successful if the rotation was kept to a minimum.
Clearly, injuries can waylay the best-made plans and the fact George Furbank was hurt before this Six Nations meant Borthwick had to rejig things at full-back.
He went with Freddie Steward in Ireland, but has now moved Marcus Smith from fly-half to 15 for France. Fin Smith of Northampton starts at No 10 this weekend.
Injury has also meant Cadan Murley, who started on the wing against Ireland, has been replaced by Ollie Sleightholme this weekend.
I like Sleightholme. He is fast, strong, aggressive and direct. He finishes really well, like Dan Luger in my days in charge, and Le Crunch at Twickenham feels like a day made for him.
There are changes in the back row too. Borthwick went for double Curry in Dublin – with the twins Tom and Ben on the flanks and Ben Earl at No 8. For France, it’s Tom Curry at blindside, Earl back at No 7, and Tom Willis in at the back of the scrum.
I think both back rows have merit. I thought the trio who started in Dublin went well. I also think the trio selected for France can go well too.
I’m a fan of Ollie Sleightholme, who looks like Le Crunch at Twickenham is a day made for him
Tom Willis’ big ball-carrying and physicality can counteract a giant French pack on Saturday
Borthwick’s argument, I’m sure, will be that he has selected horses for courses – bringing in Willis’ big ball-carrying and physicality to try to counteract a giant French team, particularly in the pack.
There is merit to that argument and it is exciting especially to see Willis start such a big game.
But I’d like to see England have the confidence to try and select their team on their own terms – or, what they want to do and not what their opposition on any given weekend can bring to the party.
England know what’s coming against France. They’re brutal in their forwards. For me, the way to beat France is to move them around the park and to try and run their big pack off their feet.
Against France, I liked to deploy Mike Catt or Charlie Hodgson alongside Jonny Wilkinson. Twin playmakers keep the game moving as fast as possible and expand your kicking game.
This is where the twin-Smith axis could be very effective, but it would be even better if it was backed up by the speed of England’s pack and in particular, the back row. I’m not sure this selection, especially in terms of the forwards, is designed to do that.
There is so much to be said for consistency when it comes to picking your team. I think that’s particularly the case in English rugby, where the national side comes together from 10 Gallagher Premiership sides and it’s been clear that cohesion has been an issue.
Such a situation is very different in a country like Ireland, where their national team is selected from just four provinces and of course, the majority of their side is made up of Leinster players.
The dual-Smith axis will be crucial to getting France running and moving them around
I would often use Mike Catt (right) or Charlie Hodgson alongside Jonny Wilkinson (left) against France to act as a second playmaker
It’s no surprise that England’s most successful periods in rugby came when the majority of the side was picked from a few clubs, like Leicester Tigers and Wasps in the early 2000s
England are never going to be able to have that luxury. But I don’t think it’s a surprise that in the past, the country’s successful periods have come when the core of the side was made up of players from one or two sides – think Leicester and Wasps in the early 2000s and Saracens 10 years later.
I can understand why after seven straight losses to Tier One sides, Borthwick is looking for the magic formula. But my advice to him would to be stick rather than twist too much.
It is a huge game for this England side. They were very good for the first half against Ireland last weekend, but fell away to suffer another defeat. I do not envision the same to happen at Twickenham.
Much like England’s victory against Ireland last year at Twickenham, if England start well, as they must, I believe they can grow into the game. England Expects.
