Humbled: England in Cardiff
Crushed. England were completely and utterly crushed in Cardiff. Nobody expected Saturday's events to unfold in that manner, not even the most confident Welshman.
It was a Welsh performance that will be referenced, heralded and held aloft for years to come, decades even. For those too young to remember the glory years of 1970s, this will be the reference point. There is no escaping a margin of defeat by that size.
The gap on the scoreboard, and a record gap at that, highlights not only where England fell dramatically short, but the class and ability of this Welsh squad that went missing for throughout the majority of 2012.
The message following England's victory over New Zealand last December was that without further success, the scalp would lack meaning. Four wins and burying the hatchet in Dublin certainly felt like a step in that direction, only for that path to now be cut off.
England have not been transformed into a bad side just as they were not a great one after beating the All Blacks - but they have been ruthlessly undressed.
Test experience cannot be bought and when Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones were starting out with Wales - both were outstanding on Saturday - their English counterparts were barely into their teens. Experience is earned - there are no fast-tracks, just a very bumpy road. Not for some time has an English front-five been taken apart so brutally.
The previous concern that England may peak too early ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup can now be discarded. Instead, Wales have landed the first psychological punch ahead of two sides meeting in the group stages.
England's focus will now fall on four areas. The first is the return to fitness of Alex Corbisiero and Ben Morgan. The mathematics of England's back-row have not added up since Morgan was injured against Scotland and his dynamism has been missed. Billy Vunipola, whose brother Mako impressed off the bench in Cardiff, is not far behind.
By adding Morgan or Vunipola into the equation at number eight, the second problem of back-row balance is partially solved. Except now you have Tom Croft, Tom Wood and Chris Robshaw fighting for two places.
The work-rate of Wood - who made 24 tackles against Wales - and Robshaw's leadership puts them ahead of Croft, who would perhaps benefit more from touring Argentina this summer as he continues his comeback rather than midweek games for the Lions. Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric were electric in Cardiff and England must replicate that.
Thirdly the midfield. England have not been creative enough in this area for some time and with Tuilagi shackled in Cardiff, there was no other spark. Playing on the back foot is never ideal but England were not inventive enough to come up with methods of escape.
Billy Twelvetrees has long been touted as the answer, but is yet to be properly tested. With his defence improved and his greater sense of invention, England have a solution.
Which leaves the back three. Mike Brown will kick himself for letting first Alex Cuthbert and then Justin Tipuric get the better of him down the left hand side. What will be forgotten after the replays of those two tries number into the thousands, along with his tap tackle on George North, is that he has been England's best attacking threat in the championship.
Brown though is not a winger. Alex Goode looked ponderous against Wales when time was not his friend, whereas Leigh Halfpenny never stuttered. England need the direction, speed and awareness that comes from specialist wingers, but it is hard to see whether Chris Ashton will be one of them. No one's flaws have been more exposed in this championship than his.
With the likes of Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Geoff Parling, Dan Cole, Wood, Robshaw and more away with the Lions later this year, England have a chance to experiment in Argentina.
Christian Wade deserves another turn as does Gloucester flyer Jonny May, whilst Joel Tomkins has shown the right combination of power and handling at Saracens to suggest he can play at Test level. Freddie Burns and Joe Simpson have waited patiently for their turns to establish themselves as England players.
England have two bright prospects at openside flanker in Matt Kvesic and Will Fraser, but the Worcester forward looks and feels like a Test player. Argentina could be the making of him, as it could of Billy Vunipola. With depth worryingly short behind Cole, rising star Henry Thomas has a chance to prove himself.
Wales have shown England the way forward when it comes to recoveries and how to attack, but Lancaster's personnel must be reshuffled.
The result from Cardiff will sting and England will have to stew on it for some time, but the answer is to look forward. If Wales can recover from an eight-game losing streak and emerge as champions five weeks later, then England in time can do the same.
England XV to face Argentina: Mike Brown, Jonny May, Joel Tomkins, Billy Twelvetrees, Christian Wade, Freddie Burns, Joe Simpson, Billy Vunipola, Matt Kvesic, Tom Croft, George Robson, Courtney Lawes, Henry Thomas, Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
lawynd says...
@letsoboks - I shouldn't really respond to such bollocks, but really...who let you get outside? And without your medication too - tsk. Leave the rugby (and the keyboard and mouse) to the adults mate.
Posted 09:57 20th March 2013
letsgoboks says...
HANG ON A MINUTE!
England... are we talking about the same england team who for the last 5/6 weeks have claimed rugby superiority over every other nation? The same england team who pretty much demanded the web ellis cup be handed to them without the need to play for it? the same england rugby team who have become the biggest glory boys outside of english football players?
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
And don't you dare get excited about my post. You clowns bring it upon yourselves every season. And unfortunately... this is beyond the english press. The players themselves need to focus on playing rugby not the press and their fans.
Good job Wales.
Posted 11:40 19th March 2013
lowkeynz says...
@ShamanSheep, He's presuming Tuilagi is in the Lions so isn't picking him or any other senior player hence why the team is so young.
Posted 00:33 19th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Scottish French and Welsh tries vs England were down to pace. When England have been great at scoring tries weve had speedsters: Underwood, Luger, Simpson-Daniel, Robinson... And not just on the wings. We need more pace at 10, 12 or 13 and wings and full back. So Wade + Varndell or Sharples or May. Foden at 15. Burnes at 10 with (I'm asking for it now) Ciprianni on bench, Joseph at 13 and 12 trees at 12. Catt selects backs with Lancaster, for attack THEN Farrell senior creates defence. Select attack, train defence.
Posted 21:09 18th March 2013
Isograford says...
So not the World beaters their media and fans thought they were after that win against a clearly jaded and probably quite ill All Blacks team. Surprising.
Posted 21:06 18th March 2013
ShamanSheep says...
Your players are young, they will develop if you have faith in them; if you all want to kick a young Tuilagi out of the team, then everyone else will be delighted! He will develop. (@chubbylugs - tindall and hape a better partnership! Are you taking the piss?). Brown did no wrong for the second try.
There are a few who will drop off but the majority of this England team will stick. Give Wales (and Italy) a bit of credit.
Posted 20:05 18th March 2013
astrospange says...
Once again people who have negative comments have been duped by the media. This is report is an observation of certain facts which have been put together to make a story. Credit to Wales but I think they will not get better. They had "one of those games" Can they replicate it again? The RWC is a long way off so there is not a psychological advantage. England will forget this game and improve. I agree with the reporter Corbs and Morgs will make a difference. Eng lack a physical winger and the introduction of Wade would be a mistake. MT should stay in the mid-field. I think he has played very well and his knock on an Sat was unfortunate and could have changed the game if he had scored. You can't use the backs if the forwards aren't going forward and not winning their own scrums. The front row will learn and Farrel will get better as well. He just needs to sort his hair out first!
Posted 19:42 18th March 2013
jamesliveinhope says...
Blimey - not sure that there's any need for panic just yet. Corbisiero and Morgan would probably be preferred to Marler and Wood but the pack is still very young with a front row about 10 years adrift of the traditional "prime" age.
I agree about Tuilagi but not suggesting that he should be canned, just used differently.
Hope Farrel goes with the Lions and Burns gets a run out, not as reliable as a place kicker but a proper spark in a back line and I'm still not sure about Flood.
There's still 2 more of these to go before RWC so I'm not panicking yet.
Posted 18:07 18th March 2013
NHsaints says...
All of this is true, but it is worth noting that one loss doesn't make a bad team, even if it was a bad loss. What does raise concern is 4 games with only 1 try (which shouldn't have been a try) and decreasing quality in our performances throughout the championship. We looked more and more like a team trying not to lose than trying to play rugby, as usual the English are guilty of piling too much pressure on our inexperienced team to take a grandslam against an experienced welsh side on their home turf. What we do now is we retain the core of experience and performers of the team; Vunipola, Hartley, Youngs, Cole, Parling, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Youngs, Flood, Brown (as a fullback), Tuilagi. And make the underperformers sweat for their jersey or lose it in Argentina (Care, Farrel, Barritt, Haskell, Marler, Ashton, Goode) and bring in the new lads or the older previously injured lads to replace them; Simpson or one of the Dickson's, Burns, Twelvetrees, Kvesic, Croft, Corbisiero, Morgan, Wade, May and Foden.
Posted 17:41 18th March 2013
chubbylugs says...
@ruggerbugger
i think the varndell ship sailed a long time ago. there's clearly something that has happened that has prevented him being picked?
Posted 17:27 18th March 2013
honestpom says...
@ makemehappy
4 Grand Slams in a generation makes Wales a brilliant team ! was not trying to suggest otherwise. England were lucky against Italy who i thought were fantastic at Twickenham. All i am saying is there is no need for England to panic after Saturday. We spent the best part of 10 years under performing after 2003, i think Lancaster et al are steering England into the right direction and are not afraid to lose on the way. By the way, why do so many people talk about the world cup as if it is the be all and end all of international rugby. Somewhere in a World Cup tournament you need luck, something no amount of planning will neccesarily get you. Get the 6 nations right, carry the momentum into the summer tours and autumn internationals year in year out and you give yourself the best chance.
Posted 15:31 18th March 2013
ruggerbugger says...
TOM VARNDELL we want pace ironically he was not picked due to his defence, Well Mike Brown (tap tackle apart) and Ashton were found wanting in that department. Stuart Lancasters blind faith to average players is unyielding and I fear he will carry on. every thread i have read has Mike Brown at fullback how does SL not see it?????
Posted 13:49 18th March 2013
Chubbylugs says...
Tuilagi should be played on the wing IMHO.
His selection at the RWC was johnsons undoing. We had a settled if not flashy partnership in hape and tindall, which once changed didn't recover.
Tuilagi doesn't have the footballing skills to play 12 or 13 at this level. If anything he should be an impact player and used as a sub
I also think Toby flood is the answer at 10. He had a bad day vs Italy with the ball in hand, but there is no better distributer in the England except for maybe Charlie hodgson. Farrell goes missing after a couple of phases and stands too deep to get the back line going. He can't be retained just for goal kicking alone
Posted 12:57 18th March 2013
Centre12 says...
England Team vs the Argies.
Now this would be my choice, however I am concerned because I dont think the likes of Flood, Barrit, Goode, Ashton, Strettle will tour with the Lions and if they don't they will no doubt start for England and I obviously would not have them in my starting team.
1- Vunipola
2- Youngs/Hartley (which ever one doesn't tour with the Lions)
3- Wilson
4- Lauchbury
5- Lawes
6- Croft
7- Kvesic
8- Morgan/Vunipola
9- Care/Simpson
10- Burns
11- Wade
12- Twelevtrees
13- Tomkins/Joseph
14- Foden
15- Brown
Posted 11:47 18th March 2013
ximixwene says...
Headline article about England? Suprising that. Who won?
Posted 11:46 18th March 2013
makemehappy says...
@honestpom - of course grandslams don't make wales a bad team either! England played well against Scotland and the AB's and were far from convincing in their other recent matches. You must have forgotten last week's game where they were lucky against Italy.
Posted 11:43 18th March 2013
jose_jones says...
I personally wouldn't put Tuilagi anywhere near a lions team until he can take a mid move pass and move it on rather than act like a winger hitting the line... he needs to learn how to pass, it's a team game..!!! There are better centres in England let alone the rest of the UK and Ireland. I really think Twelvetrees could be a great player given the chance, England look purposeful in Midfield when he has played.
Walsh had a great game and must be giving credit for keeping the yellow card in his pocket,.. Speacial mention to Ashton for rucking Roberts away from the ball and going down like a football player giving Walsh the puppy eyes when he was puched away from the same ruck by AWJ. (50 ish minutes).
Posted 11:39 18th March 2013
honestpom says...
If seven defeats on the trot did not mean Wales were a bad team, one bad day for England does not either.
Posted 11:12 18th March 2013
LondonWasp says...
well no shit sherlock....
most obvious story ever goes to...
Posted 11:01 18th March 2013