Dominant scrum or not, backs lack ideas

JEFF PROBYN

A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE GAME

You have got to take your hat off to the England team that played last week for the effort and character each of them showed after what was a disaster at the start of the game.

The loss of Charlie Ewels to a red card even before the first break in play from the kick-off was devastating. Not only for the England team but also the near 82,000 fans who thought the match would no longer be the game they paid to see, but they were wrong.

The card itself was probably as a result of head coach Eddie Jones calling for a ‘brutality' from his players that the Irish hadn't previously faced, resulting in Ewels completing his tackle on James Ryan, even though the ball had been moved on before contact was made. Unfortunately, in his haste to make the tackle, Ewels' body position resulted in a head collision that not only resulted in his red card but also the replacement of Ryan for an injury that kept him out of the Irish side for this week's game against Scotland as well.

Although reducing England to14 has made the biggest headlines, the loss of vice-captain Ryan probably had a greater impact on Ireland's game plan than the loss of Ewels to England.

French referee Mathieu Raynal has also come in for some stick on social media for his actions, although he really had no choice once contact was made with Ryan's head.

I have to say that in my opinion Raynal tried his best to keep England in the game by not penalising them as much as Ireland, even though there were a number of occasions when it was obviously England in the wrong, particularly when it came to the scrum. While watching the game I found it hard to understand why the referee blamed Ireland for wheeling the scrum when it was obvious that it was England creating a deliberate wheel, time and time again.

The speed at which the wheel was implemented and the fact it was always in the same direction would seem to indicate that it had to be a pre-planned act. Unless we are really to believe that Ellis Genge was so dominant over Tadhg Furlong that he could turn him at will, while Kyle Sinckler was also losing his battle on the other side being forced backwards to create a wheel.

If it is was really the case of England dominating the scrum to the degree that Jones said, they should have chosen their moments and used it as part of an attack plan as all the best teams do – but England seemed to lack a plan that allowed for any sort of attack from the scrum.

“A dominant scrum doesn't always create a wheel… it can push straight to gain metres”

There has been a lot of speculation as to why no more cards were awarded given the number of failed scrums but I think, like ex referee Nigel Owens, that England were just as guilty of causing the scrum problems (if not more) and could just have easily had another player sent from the field.

Jones' assertion that he wants to bring back the dominant scrum of England's past and believes this match was a seminal moment along that road, is more than a little optimistic to me.

A dominant scrum doesn't always create a wheel that ends in a collapse. It can push straight to gain metres to show the referee they are truly in control and can dictate when and how the scrum moves.

Unfortunately, it remains a fact that there are more scrum resets in every game England play than the games the other nations play, either by fault or design.

Then we have the fact that in the last two games England have conceded seven tries while scoring just one and even that was the dubious Alex Dombrandt try against Wales.

The problem for England is not a question of the ability of the scrum to dominate or not, it is seemingly a total lack of an attacking game plan or how and when to put it in to action. Gaining penalties certainly helps achieve the win (as it did over Wales), particularly as it allows England to get enough points on the board to make the opposition take chances and potentially make mistakes but that in itself is not enough.

Despite good amounts of possession and territorial advantages, the team appear to lack a basic plan to create space for the backs to exploit and so resort to box-kicking as the favoured option from almost every breakdown. Having said that there is no problem with a kicking game if executed correctly with the ball in the air long enough for chasers to get close to and pressure the receiver.

The game against Ireland saw a lot of praise for the spirit shown by the team but may have called into question Eddie Jones' future as England coach which I doubt. As much as I hate to say it, Ewels' sending off probably lifted the pressure on Jones a little as the result could be put down to the actions of the referee not the coach or his team.

Jones is said to have tasked the England attack coach Martin Gleeson with a way of creating a flexible and exciting new way to play rugby, but I think most England fans would just be pleased to see some form of attack rather than the same old game week in week out, waiting for the penalties to kick or mauls to march over.

Whatever the result had been against France last night, I believe Jones will take England to the World Cup, partly because of timing as with just around 18 months to France 2023 we are far too close for changes at the top.

Also, this would be only the second time England have retained the same coach for two World Cups, the first being Clive Woodward in 1999 and 2003. Who knows, it could be that this World Cup will be Eddie's fourth time lucky?