England fans have plenty about which to be excited. The same applies in general to European rugby followers ahead of the 2022 Six Nations. What a contrast with one year ago when an air of trepidation settled over the Six Nations with only France coming out of the Autumn series with any sort of momentum, despite England (playing at full strength against a second string France in the final) winning that eminently forgettable Pandemic born one off competition.
Eddie Jones didn't blood new players, didn't try to evolve tactically. The result was 5th in the ensuing Six Nations, one that had few sporadic moments of quality. Wales didn't need to be great to win the
tournament. The ensuing summer's dour defeat in South Africa sort of summed up the state of the British and Irish game.
The very future of test rugby was questioned (at least it was by yours truly) but the European sides bounced back in the autumn with some superb performances, spearheaded by the French and Irish wins against New Zealand.
England beat the Springboks without the high drama of Paris and Dublin. Yet it rounded a sequence of understated performances that left me hugely optimistic. The question is how quickly they can gel?
Jones has changed the way the team plays. It no longer relies on forcing errors from opposition via the territorial boots of George Ford and Owen Farrell. Ford only returned to the squad with the skipper's late withdrawal from the Six Nations through injury. Marcus Smith – with a mere 5 caps – is set to be the central piece in the England game plan. It is a seismic shift from the excessively planned strategies of the manager with Farrell, in particular, conducting on his behalf.
The Harlequins fly half will play it to plan, but it will be far looser. He will play it as he sees it. This enables the attack to keep more ball in hand for longer and probe for the defensive flaw. England played positive rugby against South Africa – the 3 tries against the world's most parsimonious defence should not be underestimated – as opposed to the negative tactics of the last few seasons.
Smith is the catalyst for a revival in England's fortunes. Whether they will be able to flip their game plan with a fresh cast of players and beat France and Scotland away is another question. I'd like to think that England fans will measure their team on performance ahead of results. It is imperative Smith and company are given breathing space to develop their personal and the team's collective game.
France, in particular, would be a bonus win on the road but England must prevail in Rome (this should really go without saying) while Twickenham is a venue where the result is not up for debate. England versus Wales is a wonderful fixture, bursting with great local rivalry. But Wayne Pivac's Wales have a long term injury list that is daunting. England should win and win well against the current champions.
Ireland look an altogether sterner test. They were even more impressive against New Zealand than France. They demolished England in Dublin in 2021. Andy Farrell is putting together a squad with both depth of familiarity courtesy of the Leinster predominance.
Jonny Sexton, with all his experience and craft, against the more youthful genie that is Smith is headline billing itself if both men make the starting line ups for this mouth watering fixture. But it's never as simple as measuring one fly half against another.
We'll come to the forwards in a paragraph or so. First, let's consider scrum half. Ben Youngs has struggled for form in recent years for England. His service has been too slow. He is much sharper in Leicester colours this campaign and will have to translate club to country form to give Smith the split second extra the darting Danny Care provides for Harlequins. Previous England 10/12 combinations have been content to kick from deeper. If Smith is to succeed, he has to play it flatter.
Minus Farrell, England have the need for a new inside centre. Henry Slade flourished outside Smith in the South African game but has appeared most comfortable as an outside centre. When Jones allowed him to perform as a cross between 13 and 15 against Australia last November he offered another genuine pair of eyes to scan the field. He has an important role in the forthcoming weeks – wherever England utilise him.
England have suffered their share of injuries on the wing but if this duo click, whoever plays wide will have their opportunities to impress, in tandem with the ridiculously mature Tigers full back, Freddie Steward.
Up front Jones has come up with the squad changes that were lacking last season. The Vunipola brothers are in decent nick for Saracens but have lost their positions within the squad. Autumn was interesting in the back row with Tom Curry an unconvincing option at 8.
As Sam Underhill is injured, the Sale flanker can revert to the open side with Courtney Lawes the likely line out specialist and replacement skipper on the blind side. That leaves Smith's partner in crime at Harlequins, Alex Dombrandt, or Exeter's try scoring machine, Sam Simmonds, vying for the Number 8 position.
Smith has a symbiotic relationship with his Number 8. That gives the Harlequin the edge in my eyes. Whichever way Jones sees it, he has an option of fielding a bench with 6 forwards and 2 backs (if Northampton's George Furbank takes his place as full back/fly half cover on the bench.) Jones appeared to groom him for the role in the Autumn.
Ford either starts or remains part of the squad match day 23. Selection isn't a matter of the elite 15 and the next best replacements. It is a balancing act. The evidence points to Jones desiring a pack that can be dynamic for the entire 80 minutes in the mode of the World Cup winning South African side.
Expect England to push the limits in this Six Nations as it tries to catch up with a French team that has plotted its way to the 2023 World Cup since the last one finished. Mistakes and magnificent rugby may go arm in arm from the first kick in Edinburgh to the last in Paris. Even if they do not win the title, they can take a significant step towards France 2023. Prepare for England to accelerate. All this and not a mention of Maro Itoje. I'd love to see him lead England. Could the 2022 Guinness Six Nations be the stage for him to wear the captains armband?
