That coach is doing a good job, huh?
STUART LANCASTER HAS exceeded expectation to such an extent that talk of winning the World Cup on home soil arrived a full six months before scheduled.
Many expected a long, painful plod back towards the top, but Lancaster revived English ideals last year and created a young hungry team, happy to systematically smother the opposition.
A good November?
Any month you beat the All Blacks is a good ‘un. England battered them at Twickenham, and it is that result that is buoying the confidence of the nation back to its more recognisable level.
They also trounced Fiji, and won actual caps and ranking points for a game Ireland only deemed worthy of a ‘A’ status, but it’s worth remembering that many in the New Zealand side had been suffering from a virus in the week leading up to their defeat in Twickenham.
So perhaps the narrow 15-16 defeat to South Africa is the most accurate reflection of their ability – remember too, that they were one good captain’s call from a five-metre line-out and a chance to win that game.
Who’s their key man then?
He’s out of commission this weekend, but Manu Tuilagi could be the man to make the difference in big games.
We all know, the red rose can hold its own in an attritional battle, but their back-line is seriously short of creativity. They’ve got Chris Ashton as an effective strike-runner, but it’s the Leicester 13 who can really transform the side into a threat.
So their weakness is; they’re boring?
Pretty much. Though their pack is formidable, if a side can gain any sort of parity they’ll be in trouble. Or, if an opponent can make enough tackles to keep them at bay (like we reckon Scotland can do), they’ll be in danger of having victory swept away. So it’s absolutely essential for England that the goal-kicker is on form…
How is that kicker?
We reckon we’ve seen the full spectrum from Owen Farrell already this season. Though it’s hard to be too harsh on a 21-year-old fly-half with England’s expectation on his shoulders.
Against Munster In the Heineken Cup, he looked shaky enough and that perhaps bodes well for the similarly silent conditions he’ll experience in the Aviva. On other weeks, notably against New Zealand and Racing Metro, he has shown an ability to put on an absolute clinic on goal-kicking.
His perfect 11 penalties in France last month would have been enough to make Jonny Wilkinson feel like a 60 percenter.
Many injury concerns?
The main one this weekend is Tuilagi, but he is expected to feature in Dublin next weekend.
Young fly-half Freddie Burns will also miss the opening weekend, while prop Alex Corbisiero has already been ruled out of the trip to Lansdowne and flanker Tom Johnson is out for the tournament.
Another back row who misses out is Calum Clarke, though few will look on his shoulder injury with pity after he served 32 weeks suspension for deliberately attempting to injure Rob Hawkins. He succeeded, and broke the hooker’s elbow.
Any old chariot masters retired?
Retirements are pretty thin on the ground this year given Lancaster’s mass overhaul of the squad last year, but Lewis Moody (more on him next week) retired from all rugby due to injury last March.
In August, prop Matt Stevens announced he would withdraw from international commitments with his adopted nation. The 29-year-old South African cited his main reasons as family time… and Saracens
Starting XV
Goode; Ashton, Barritt, Twelvetrees, Brown; Farrell, Youngs: Marler, Youngs, Cole; Launchbury, Parling; Wood, Robshaw, Morgan.
