England Rugby needs risk

A transition period, tough schedule, injuries… use whatever excuse or reason you like. The fact is, at the moment England are nothing less than poor.

The Autumn internationals saw just one England try, and the team was exposed as having a deep lack of imagination against all sides. This needs to change ahead of the Six Nations that kick off next month, and a number of things need to happen in order to prepare for the World Cup that is forever looming over the rugby universe.

One word that needs to enter the England coaching staff’s vocabulary is “risk.”  Without risk, you get nothing, and at the moment, the whole ethos of the England camp seems to be “take the easy decision.” The easy decision has been to keep Steve Borthwick at captain. No one can soundly argue that he is one of the two best second rows in the country at the moment. Lawes, Kennedy and Shaw are all ahead of him in the pecking order, so a big call needs to be made. What’s the point in playing if we’re not playing our strongest side? Borthwick has to go, and for the time being Moody should be captain. Then, next season, pick a young player, someone like Croft or Rees, to take the team forward.

And at the same time, let’s take a gamble in the centres. I am praying we don’t see an all Kiwi midfield, not because I disagree with it, but because Shontayne Hape’s place could be taken by someone who will last, like Tait, or Geraghty, or even Turner-Hall when fit. If you begin to build solidity, then the tries will come easily. Tindall and Greenwood made a great pair as they knew each other inside out, and that’s the same with any pairing. England cannot simply run it up the middle all day long with a set of centre’s just thrown together.

The wing is another place that needs to change. Banahan is good, but Ashton is better and the try record speaks for itself. The Northampton man should be starting as he has proved his worth and is a prolific try scorer.

Fly half will be a major gauge as to what direction Johnson wants to take this team. I hate to say it, but he has to bench Jonny Wilkinson. Toby Flood offers much more in attack, receives the ball flat, his kicking from hand is better and he can release the backs with more damaging effect. Keeping the board ticking over with penalties is pointless if you’re not scoring tries.