With the Six Nations set for kick-off, Planet Rugby takes a look at each team's chances. Next up, England!
England are the bookies favourites this season due to a decent end to 2012 and also their three home games on the schedule. But will they kick on or be left to contemplate another false dawn?
Last Year: Second place for an England side under the tutelage of interim coach Stuart Lancaster was a decent finish after what was a forgetful World Cup in New Zealand. Publicly noticeable stains had unfortunately left the white jersey far from respected by even some of their own players, let alone those outside the nation. Step forward a back to basics approach from Lancaster which put England's players on the straight and narrow and left some of their old guard out in the cold. England did take time to find their feet and were fortunate to beat Scotland before a narrow victory in Italy saw them go two from two. However, the next game against Wales at Twickenham ended in defeat when a Scott Williams try saw England fall 12-19. That led to the Welsh motoring to the Grand Slam - but such an achievement might well have been England's as impressive wins over France and Ireland followed soon after.
This year: Twelve months ago Stuart Lancaster was in the process of putting England back together again. He's done a pretty good job so far, with a strong Six Nations backed up by a memorable victory over New Zealand. Now the task is to kick on and prove that the All Blacks success was no fluke. Expectation is high - with France coach Philippe Saint-Andre saying the Red Rose are favourites for 2013's title - so England desperately need to avoid any slip-ups against a Scotland squad that is far from stable at present before pushing on for possible silverware. Lancaster's coaching team has had a year together and seem like a group striving toward the same goals, with restoring sound attitudes and pride in the jersey reaping rewards so far. Progress is the key thing however and it would be a massive disappointment if England finished this Six Nations with anything other than a top two spot.
Players to watch: It has been a monumental rise for lock Joe Launchbury as awards and recognition have been laid at his door since making his debut for London Wasps. Club form led to international appearances and he is now a real contender to make the British & Irish Lions tour - should that strong form continue in February and March. Of course, the form and decision making of flanker Chris Robshaw is also going to be under the microscope while it will be interesting to see if Chris Ashton can carry his late-Pool Heineken Cup form into the Six Nations. If so, England have a potent finisher which will significantly help their push to reclaim the title they relinquished to Wales last year. Also watch out for Billy Twelvetrees.
Prospects: With three home games on their schedule, many are predicting good things for England. However, tough trips to Dublin and Cardiff are going to test their resolve as both Ireland and Wales are also in with a shout of the title. Playing France on home soil is always a positive sign pre-tournament so if they can get off on the right foot against Scotland - with a better performance than the narrow win last season - they will travel to Ireland confident and face a side possibly nursing a few wounds from what should be a scrap with Wales. 2nd.
Fixtures:
2 February: v Scotland - Home
10 February: v Ireland - Away
23 February: v France - Home
10 March: v Italy - Home
16 March: v Wales - Away
Comments
Danatthecorner says...
@cymruambyth I don't think you know what overconfident or arrogant mean because neither of the examples you have chosen show either.
Considering England have finished first and second the last 2 years, losing narrowly to wales last year; its not arrogant or overconfident to say the Slam "is not out of reach". In any case I'd have thought the name "Froggy73" was a bit of a giveaway that one of them isn't English.
And the other poster also said "November was a real mixed bag", "A lot of what's wrong with England comes down to effort and attitude" and "England have the team that can win the trophy but not many stand out players"
Doesn't sound remotely arrogant to me. Sounds like you're desperate to be offended by something that isn't there. Grow up.
Posted 12:27 30th January 2013
Lucasrg says...
England is the only team, together with France this year, to have not clear weakness.
Even when they play ugly or try-less...they can still win any game. Being over confident or compulsively arrogant can undermine their progress.
Maybe this year, they will stomp on a green banana skin (aka Ireland).
Posted 11:55 30th January 2013
TheGreatOne says...
France are my pick. England are good but not yet the finished product.
Posted 11:41 30th January 2013
TVaddict says...
Corbisero is our biggest loss, without him we can only gain parity at the set piece which will take away our momentum. If he were fit I'd be feeling a lot more confident about this six nations but I'm still going to predict that we'll win but not with the slam. I think we'll slip up to Ireland, a young inexperienced players playing against a team that seems to hate you with a passion, it'll be a learning experience for them though. Saying that I'd be content with second as long as they play well.
My main hope is to see some consistency with some more new players blooded. I need to see Burns (if fit) and a decent winger (i.e. not Ashton, Strettle or Monye) given some time to develop. I want to see a solid lineout without Croft, a solid scrum without Corbisero, an ability to score tries with Tuilagi, and an ability to score points whenever we reach the opponent's 22 (preferably with tries).
I predict Launchbury, Robshaw, Youngs and Brown to have excellent 6 nations.
Posted 11:24 30th January 2013
cymruambyth says...
"... we have been given a glimpse into what's possible if the team acts as one, and its bleedin' brilliant!!!"
"... the Grand Slam is not out of reach"
Who said the English were over-confident and arrogant?
Posted 10:58 30th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
England are in a position kick start their bid for world cup glory.
They are also just as likely to trip up and land face first in a dog poo.
November was a real mixed bag, but forget who we were playing in that last match. England performed fantasically. Thats the bench mark and the question is whether England can maintain it. They will be rusty vs scotland. The fact that England had been together for 4 weeks prior to the NZ match must be recognised. But alot of whats wrong with England comes down to effort and attitude. Are they truely serious about being the best? The coaches are, which I love. but this tournament is going to tell us how realistic Englands aspirations are. We won't learn that vs Scotland (unless we lose, which will be "write off time" as far as i'm concerned) but there's huge matches in Cardiff and Dublin that will tell us a lot.
England have the team that can win the trophy, but not many stand out players. However, we have been given a glimpse into what's possible if the team acts as one, and its bleedin' brilliant!!! Over to you Messers Lancaster, Robshaw ...and Telfer - cheers again Jim, still think we should offer him a job! ;)
Posted 10:50 30th January 2013
froggy73 says...
England are my clear favourites and playing France at home, I believe the Grand Slam is not out of reach.
Posted 10:32 30th January 2013