As the Six Nations Championship approaches its climax over the final pair of weekends, there’s mounting anticipation and hopefully a dash of excitement and fanfare as the finale unfolds. The competition is far from over; Ireland are in pursuit of a championship and Grand Slam, while Scotland and England remain plausible contenders for the tournament win. Additionally, the coveted Triple Crown could be available during the last weekend.
France had an unfortunate start and hasn’t managed to bounce back, while Italy could have marked Gonzalo Quesada’s inaugural year in command with a significant victory last outing. For the consecutive second season, with limited resources compared to other initiatives, Netflix has endeavoured to encapsulate the drama.
Maintaining privacy, both on and off the field, is a commonality among rugby players and it’s a task for television cameras to foster transparency in such a setting. Based on my experience, successful teams possess interpersonal sensitivity which I believe should remain away from public exposure on camera.
Traditional values such as personal obligation, sincerity, passion, and devotion still underpin rugby. Unlike in some professional sports, players’ motivations aren’t solely financial. Despite the attractive lifestyle, I’ve yet to encounter a rugby player who didn’t need to work after retiring from the sport.
The docu-series is faced with a paradox as it aims to depict the unique atmosphere of the Six Nations. However, many players who’ve put in the effort to participate in the tournament may be hesitant to expose their feelings outside of the competitive setting. There’s a fear that too much access might dilute the unique elements that make it special.
How Netflix approaches storytelling this week, especially with Ireland’s forthcoming visit to Twickenham, could be intriguing in the long run when the pre-game hype and build-up are dictated by the eventual outcome.
The Interview with Lawrence Dallaglio
With a mere 15 months to go until the World Cup, England took a risk by naming Steve Borthwick as head coach. The noise for a better turn-around has been growing recently, given his win rate stands at 58 per cent.
Notable instances include when they nearly beat the eventual winners, South Africa, at the World Cup where terrible meteorological conditions leveled the competition field.
Paris recognises heart as a valuable trait, a quality the English players demonstrated abundantly. A strong display of technical expertise in the set pieces allowed South Africa to clinch the victory.
After their initial matches in the Six Nations Championship, England’s performance has left room for improvement. Their narrow victories have been overshadowed by a particularly noticeable loss to Scotland, indicating a team undergoing significant changes.
Eighteen games into a coach’s stint, this should not be the situation. The newly installed defence system, led by Felix Jones, appears to be a friction point, with numerous mistakes showcasing players who are either not in sync with the system or struggling due to an unfit or subpar foundational set piece.
It’s a longstanding belief that one must ‘earn the right to go around a team’; the same principle applies to defence— players must earn the right to go high past the ball. As a newcomer to the role, Jones can hopefully take the time to adapt, or even tailor, the system to better fit the players.
Equally troubling is England’s stagnated offense, which has seen marginal improvement under Borthwick’s rule. Though the English Premiership features a wealth of individual talent, and clubs like Northampton Saints, Harlequins, and the Exeter Chiefs excel at a dynamic, high-speed style of rugby, this success has not transferred to the national team. A case in point was evident against Scotland when England, trailing by nine points, unnecessarily prolonged at least two rucks to 16 seconds for a box-kick.
Overburdening a player with stringent systems and procedures can often dampen their attacking flair, and it seems like this might be happening here. The present inclination is to rely on data-driven offensive strategies which don’t align with the current style of play. There is more emphasis on forming a structure or a system instead of creating an opportunity.
Given the little time England has between their loss to Scotland and their home game against Ireland at Twickenham, it is unlikely they will rectify these issues. But a clear message will likely be sent to each player from day one in the team hotel: failure is not an option.
The strategic template for the upcoming match is an uncomplicated one, with a focus on low mistakes and high vigour. In their preparation, they will be looking at Wales’ defensive strategies that were successful in thwarting Ireland’s offence. Their objective then would be to rack up points swiftly and regularly. They might garner inspiration from their memorable performance against the Springboks.
When a team accepts their less than satisfactory display as Ireland did post their encounter with Wales, it can serve as a potent uniting force.
I recall a tale my spouse shared with me about Andy Farrell. Brendan Venter had identified Farrell as an excellent coaching candidate within moments of their meeting. He appreciated Farrell’s conduct with his wife and his excellent understanding of people.
Ireland’s entire coaching staff boasts of a rich history of playing rugby at top tiers, and all have experienced the lows of a game. This provides them with an unparalleled ability to empathise with their team. This rapport with the players is built on mutual trust and respect. I believe there was an enhanced vigour in training that was lacking prior to the match with Wales.
Ireland is backed by a sense of self-confidence derived from hard work. They are aware of their prowess when they concentrate on their game. Not many opponents can match up to them. England, on the other hand, will attempt to leverage the emotional aspect of the game, trying to win over the spectators to create a potentially difficult atmosphere for the opposition.
The opportunity for Ireland lies in the unease in the minds of the English players. The most well-regarded teams have a talent for turning this mental unrest into an on-field reality. The Irish team visiting Twickenham on Saturday has plans to explore this unease, launching relentless attacks initially.
This match’s significance extends beyond just a historic rivalry. Ireland is looking for a commendable performance after the Welsh outing, while the English team, their backs against the wall, brings an unpredictable factor to the match-up. The victorious side gets to dictate their narrative for Netflix and further.