England's Kick-Heavy Strategy Falters Against Italy
In his latest column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson reflects on England's first defeat to Italy and critiques their reliance on a kick-heavy game plan, emphasizing the need for change ahead of their upcoming match in Paris.
"I did not enjoy my first few games for England," Dawson begins. "My first cap came in 1995 and I started all four games in the 1996 Five Nations, which we won on the final game. I may have been living the dream, but it was not much fun to play in. Pass and kick - I was under very clear and rigid instructions. My running game helped me gain international recognition, but I was unable to express myself on the field."
He adds that as his confidence grew, he realized that deviating from the prescribed game plan was not an act of rebellion if executed at the right moment. In fact, it could earn respect from coaches if the decision was correct.
"Being brave enough to say in a huddle 'guys, we do need to do X, Y and Z here to win' is what I want from this England team."
Dawson critiques England's adherence to a box-kick-heavy strategy during their 23-18 Six Nations defeat by Italy, stating it ultimately failed them. He highlights a moment just before halftime in Rome when Fin Smith deviated from the plan, bouncing to the blindside and delivering a precise cross-field kick to Tom Roebuck for England's try.
"Would head coach Steve Borthwick have gone after him in the changing room for playing heads-up rugby? No. Smith was brave and delivered the right decision under pressure."
However, Dawson notes this was the only significant player-led decision that stood out during the historic loss. He points out that it is difficult to single out individuals for poor performance, attributing the defeat to a series of careless errors at crucial moments.
He mentions that Sam Underhill and Maro Itoje were performing well but their second-half yellow cards were costly. Underhill's high tackle was understandable, but Itoje's penalty was a rash decision reflecting a lack of clear thinking, putting England under pressure they could not overcome in the final quarter.
"Their ability to adapt to a changing picture in front of them has been a weakness all tournament."
Dawson observes that there was no urgency until the final moments when Ollie Chessum broke clear, revealing the squad's evident talent but underperformance.
Kick-Heavy Strategy in Paris a 'Red Flag'
Dawson warns that England cannot expect to beat France in Paris by employing the same kick-heavy tactics.
"If they do, that is a red flag against England's coaching ticket."
He acknowledges that while the strategy may have contributed to a 12-game winning streak, Scotland demonstrated that more than 40 points are needed to defeat France, even on Scottish soil.
He stresses that England must play a more dynamic style and that the players, especially the backs, likely do not enjoy the current approach.
"There is nothing to lose in Paris, so let them play. Everyone on the planet thinks they are going to lose."
Dawson believes head coach Steve Borthwick would prefer his backline to play instinctively rather than be constrained by rigid strategy.
"A strategy should not rule every move. Why not go out there and play in a style that is not completely alien to the player base?"
He does not advocate wholesale changes, noting Borthwick tried adjustments against Italy and must show patience. The only change he suggests is bringing Fraser Dingwall in for Seb Atkinson, deploying Northampton's 10, 12, and 13 to attack France aggressively.
Dawson points out that Scotland's approach showed France is beatable if met with equal intensity. He describes the Six Nations as unpredictable, with England ironically the most predictable team.
He praises Tommy Freeman as one of the best attacking players globally and insists the squad has the personnel to alter their approach.
Currently, the strategy is tedious and restricts player expression, but responsibility lies with both coaches and players.
"Going Down to 13 'Hurt Us Badly'" - Borthwick on England Defeat
"Pretty Huge" Fixes Required
Dawson states that the required fixes are significant.
He suggests that isolated mistakes can be valuable learning experiences for the 2027 World Cup, citing the example of playing with 14 men after Scotland as beneficial long term.
However, England has not learned from past errors, as evidenced by two yellow cards against Ireland and two more in Rome.
"You are meant to learn from those mistakes. England are doing the opposite."
During England's winning streak, Dawson wanted them to face tough situations rather than an easy path to the next World Cup. The current three-game losing streak indicates a rapid decline in form.
He emphasizes that if one defeat undermines all previous achievements, a mental shift is necessary.
Dawson believes a strong performance in Paris is possible, despite how it may sound.
"England suit being the underdogs and have crumbled this campaign under expectation."
He notes that a World Cup involves high expectations and scrutiny, and learning to manage that is crucial.
Victory in Paris could help Borthwick and the team regain momentum, as his tenure has shown England prefers to compete as underdogs.
Players must confront uncomfortable truths among themselves.
"For there even to be an unlikely possibility of a Wooden Spoon shows how far they have fallen off in this campaign."
England's next two matches are against France and South Africa. The squad's talent is sufficient to compete, but the responsibility lies with the players.
Another heavy defeat would prompt serious questions about the coaching staff and players.
England's Leadership and Gameplan Under Scrutiny
The current situation places England's leadership and tactical approach under close examination.
- Borthwick backed by RFU despite run of defeats
- Does Rome defeat mark beginning of end of Borthwick empire?
- Permutations as France, Scotland & Ireland eye title
