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The crazy odds one bookie has against England's losing to Italy and 4 other major talking points
England are looking to rebuild their Guinness Six Nations title defence when they host Italy on Saturday.
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Here the PA news agency examines five talking points heading into the Twickenham showdown.
Right on the money
Eddie Jones has guaranteed England are ready for Italy, declaring “we’re right on the money”. It comes after the highest-paid coach in international rugby returned to a well-worn theme following the Calcutta Cup catastrophe by blaming himself for failing to adequately prepare the team to face Scotland. Defeat by the Azzurri is unthinkable – one bookmaker views England as 1/1000 favourites – so overwhelming evidence that the Scots’ first victory at Twickenham since 1983 was just a blip is required.
Missed opportunity
Perhaps sensing that confidence has been depleted by the opener, Jones has turned to his tried and tested against an Italy side containing a mere 224 caps. Ollie Lawrence has been dropped despite touching the ball just once against Scotland, his brutal omission necessary to make way for the George Ford and Owen Farrell axis. Ben Youngs is undisputed first choice scrum-half, but Dan Robson and Harry Randall must be asking why they are being overlooked for a start. Jack Willis and Ben Earl remain on a bench where evidence of England’s conservatism under Jones is provided in the form of a six-two split between forwards and backs – against comfortably the Six Nations’ weakest side.
Farrell’s moment
Jones’ England are built around Farrell, making his decline in form a deep concern. His coach says he will not be dropped on the strength of one poor game against Scotland, but in reality his influence on play has been waning over a far longer period. At his best the Saracens playmaker is world class, a proven matchwinner who drives England onwards through force of will, but this current incarnation is struggling to hit the right note in defence and attack. Saturday’s game is a chance to accelerate out of the doldrums.
. @SaleSharksRugby MacGinty is maybe uniquely qualified to run the rule over the No10s Eddie Jones could be selecting rather than sticking with Ford n' Faz.
– writes @chrisjonespress 👨💻https://t.co/LkJvlHJGWZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 12, 2021
Taking a knee
An important message is getting lost amid its chaotic implementation. Sixteen England players took a knee against Scotland in support of the fight against racism, while only four of the visitors performed the gesture. Responding to criticism over how few of his Calcutta Cup heroes chose to recognise the anti-racism movement, Gregor Townsend revealed they had not been told of England’s plans. Before the other two round-one games, no player took a knee. The Six Nations says it is a matter of personal choice, but the inconsistent approach is a bad look for the tournament.
"To see people on social media try to discredit its importance – I can’t let that slide"https://t.co/Da5AEzcRlB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 11, 2021
Azzurri blues
Italy’s sequence of 28 consecutive Six Nations defeats is a blight on the Championship and as 80-1 underdogs it would take the biggest upset in red rose history for that run to come to an end on Saturday. Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has added his voice to calls for the introduction of promotion and relegation into the tournament via a play-off game, most likely against Georgia, stating that Italy are “just not good enough to compete at this level”. It is hard to argue otherwise.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments