Fixture list may save some England players
Matchday 1 review with rugby coach and author, Mike Penistone
To lose your first home game of the 6 nations and then face Italy at home a week later is a lot more palatable than Wales, France, or Ireland away.
By no means am I being disrespectful to Italy. In fact, they showed more attacking creativity in a 50-point loss than England did in a 5-point loss.
A substantial win will vindicate Eddie ‘s comment, "we had a bad day".
There has been a lack of variety in attack with England for a while now. Farrell is a shadow of the player he once was, yet he commands a place at 10 or 12. Opposition coaches will be aware of his decline. Running is as much about instinct as thought. When you consider, should I kick or run…it’s too late! The best captains over the years have led by example on the field, by presence not by talking…there is no time. The great ones get you on the front foot again. 'Follow me' rather than 'do this'. Farrell had to run England back into the game, even off limited ball. When he kicked, despite a 5 v 2, you felt Scotland would win.
Redpath showed an instinct to run into space. If the defence drifted, he attacked it by running back at it, exposing any lazy inside defender. He made it look effortless and he made ground.
The transitioning of players from Academy/U 20s to first team or International status can be varied. Some players just need the exposure. When I recommended Ed Slater to Richard Cockerill at Tigers, I pressed hard for him to work with the first team forwards immediately he got off the plane. I felt he could cope!
Other young players need the security of the team playing structure.
