Matt Stevens: Play to our strengths and the invention will pay off

 
23 November 2012

When playing for England it’s never a good idea to read the press. From a player’s point of view it’s not as good or as bad as you’re led to believe. I remember one manager even banning newspapers from the team room in Test week.

Most of the articles I read this week (I’m now allowed!) banged on about England not living up to expectations and underestimating a substandard Australian team. This is true. England were beaten by a depleted side still reeling from a heavy defeat in France. The Wallabies played hard-nosed Test rugby and won the exchanges in the set piece while they were also effective at the breakdown, further slowing the English ball.

The attack was pretty even on both sides. England showed good continuity at times although the passing accuracy was often poor. However, if you’d said England would attack well but fail to win the set-piece battle against the Aussies, nine times out of 10 I’d say we would lose to the team ranked third in the world.

It comes down to playing to your strengths. The Heineken Cup and Premiership produce players that are technically good at the set piece, producing clean ball going forward and destroying the platform of the opposition’s attack. Kickers such as Toby Flood (above) and Owen Farrell put their teams in the right areas of the field, allowing their strike runners to either score or put enough pressure on the opposition so a penalty is conceded.

Is this a lack of experience from key decision-makers? Perhaps the pressure to play expansively has clouded the game plan but this does not explain the poor set-piece display.

In the scrum Australia crowded Dan Cole, a clever tactic which resulted in him handing the advantage to the tourists at most scrums. Even though he worked hard afterwards it had little effect. It was obvious Joe Marler was injured early on but the coaches were reluctant to bring on the inexperienced Mako Vunipola. That was a mistake as Vunipola delivered the best performance of all the front row. The lineout drive was dealt with well by the Australians and England had little advantage here.

South Africa and England have always been evenly matched in the set-piece area, or at least both sides give it equal importance.

The Springboks have intelligent kickers at No9 and No10 with Ruan Pienaar and Pat Lambie. They will try to put South Africa in the right part of the field with nudges at the corner or the high ball, a Springbok trademark.

England must be ready for an abrasive, physical attack. Big athletic men such as Willem Alberts and Eben Etzebeth will come straight at the hosts, who must defend the gain line with conviction.

Outside the battle in the scrum I feel England might just hold a slight advantage. Last week their attack showed invention and when the offloads went to hand they looked dangerous. The game must be played in the right areas of field, though, and Francois Louw cannot be allowed the joy Michael Hooper was given last week at slowing the breakdown. That means accuracy and getting the correct numbers to the breakdown. If, after a couple of phases the attack isn’t on, kick to the corners or launch a high ball. Trust our defence and put the pressure back on South Africa.

England know they came close to beating South Africa on their home turf and if they win tomorrow last week’s setback will be forgotten.

Providing England stay true to their strengths by winning the set piece, holding strong in defence and playing in the right areas of the field, I can see them edging this by six points. What’s clear is that, whatever happens, there will be some bloodied and bruised bodies tomorrow night.

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