This is a team specifically picked to beat Australia. Eddie has a game plan that involves never getting caught behind the gain line as that brings pooper into play. Burrell and Yarde are better at this than Nowell as they are bigger and quicker than the alternatives. They also provide genuine decoys. This is also combined with plenty of carriers in the current pack. Australia don't know who England are going to pick in any given move. Also if a move isn't working they have more get out of jail cards that can stay on their feet longer to allow the back row to come into play. There are also a raft of good carriers to come off the bench to keep that intensity going.
Our back row is really good at clearing front foot rucks, Haskell especially but is too tall to be as effective over the ball and too slow - playing too wide too early would be dangerous. To beat the Aussies at their own game isn't going to happen. This is effectively a modification of the lions tactics that worked so well, admittedly against an inferior wallaby side.
Rugby world's website had a great article on England's use of the lineout against Wales. On most moves Yarde is either a decoy or an option that is chosen. His physicality fixes defenders, creating space for others. Ben Youngs' try is the most obvious example.
Nowell's best attribute is his kick return game but the Aussies kick less than others. He also had a shocker defensively in the grand slam game - Vakatawa gave him the run around. We will miss Nowell's breakdown skills though. When/if we have a seven we might be able to have a more varied game plan which Nowell would thrive in.
I am pleased that we finally have the first coach since Woodward who understands rugby is a game of chess. With the depth of our player base, yet without nailed on world class players who can adapt to different game plans (E.g. Nonu inside centres who can play it any way you like) picking horses for courses makes sense. As long as it is not over done and any continuity is lost, this will give us an advantage.
On another matter we may finally not have to wait that long for the inside centre we have been waiting for. Harry Mallinder was absolutely first class in his U20 debut. Kicking, offloads, goal kicking, gain line breaking, wide passing, pace. He had so much time on the ball it was ridiculous. It was like Twelvetrees had been given a yard of pace and a brain transplant. Will be interesting to see if he can replicate it against Australia and the other Southern Hemisphere teams later in the tournament - Italy were very limited.
Our back row is really good at clearing front foot rucks, Haskell especially but is too tall to be as effective over the ball and too slow - playing too wide too early would be dangerous. To beat the Aussies at their own game isn't going to happen. This is effectively a modification of the lions tactics that worked so well, admittedly against an inferior wallaby side.
Rugby world's website had a great article on England's use of the lineout against Wales. On most moves Yarde is either a decoy or an option that is chosen. His physicality fixes defenders, creating space for others. Ben Youngs' try is the most obvious example.
Nowell's best attribute is his kick return game but the Aussies kick less than others. He also had a shocker defensively in the grand slam game - Vakatawa gave him the run around. We will miss Nowell's breakdown skills though. When/if we have a seven we might be able to have a more varied game plan which Nowell would thrive in.
I am pleased that we finally have the first coach since Woodward who understands rugby is a game of chess. With the depth of our player base, yet without nailed on world class players who can adapt to different game plans (E.g. Nonu inside centres who can play it any way you like) picking horses for courses makes sense. As long as it is not over done and any continuity is lost, this will give us an advantage.
On another matter we may finally not have to wait that long for the inside centre we have been waiting for. Harry Mallinder was absolutely first class in his U20 debut. Kicking, offloads, goal kicking, gain line breaking, wide passing, pace. He had so much time on the ball it was ridiculous. It was like Twelvetrees had been given a yard of pace and a brain transplant. Will be interesting to see if he can replicate it against Australia and the other Southern Hemisphere teams later in the tournament - Italy were very limited.
