The present robust performance of Irish rugby isn’t sitting well with many fans who are becoming increasingly nervous, especially in light of an upcoming match at Twickenham. Desperate to handle the situation maturely, fans are yet to find comfort despite Ireland’s recent impressive record of 20 wins in their last 21 Test matches, with their only loss being to New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-final. The assumption that victory is guaranteed is thought to be a mistake only the naive would make.
Comparatively, coach Steve Borthwick’s England squad is in a different position. However, as past Ireland matches have demonstrated, being the underdog doesn’t necessarily limit the potential for victory. Continuity in team selection is a commitment Borthwick seems to value, seen clearly in the selection choices made since his appointment as coach in December 2022, following Eddie Jones.
His loyalty to the same group of players throughout the previous Six Nations and this year’s games is evident. Despite experimenting during the World Cup warm-ups, his choice of team for the tournament in France was essentially the same, prevailing through to this year’s Six Nations.
Jamie George, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl, George Ford, Elliott Daly, Henry Slade, and Tommy Freeman are all set to have played all four matches this Six Nations season by Saturday. Scrumhalf Alex Mitchell, who missed the Scotland game due to injury, is also back for the Ireland match.
Props Ellis Genge and Dan Cole moved from the bench to the starting slots after the first two games. Meanwhile, centre Ollie Lawrence and fullback George Furbank, who scored a try against the Scots, moved ahead of Fraser Dingwall and Freddie Steward, indicating a possible new strategic direction.
As George Martin returns from injury, shifting Chessum to the back row was expected. Manu Tuilagi’s place in the team hasn’t been reclaimed post-injury, reflecting Borthwick’s firm commitment to his stance on continuity, which remains consistent with his team strategy.
The understanding from the outside portrays a somewhat mixed image of Ford’s tactics, with his position as fly-half often favouring a kicking-based game, but lacking the outstanding airborne skills of Steward who hasn’t played in the match day 23 since the inaugural two games of the competition.
This is clearly a chosen strategy, considering the statistics for ‘in-play kicks’ are notably consistent across the initial three games of the series, recording 31 (against Italy), 32 (against Wales) and another 31 (against Scotland). England’s ‘kick metres’ surpassed 800 in the victorious matches against Italy and Wales, but notably dipped in the loss to Scotland, registering a lesser 621.
The introduction of Danny Care for the Murrayfield match gave rise to speculation of a more attacking, running game. However, the data did not back this up, as the amount of short kicks and tactical ones, including box-kicks remained at a constant 22, matching that of the encounter with Wales.
When Mitchell boots the ball between the ’22s’, England’s chase involves one winger who stays close to the sideline, adjusting his run to try and get around the defenders, who stalwartly retreat to guard the receiver. Following him are either two backrows or a single backrow along with a hooker.
Should the winger not manage a clean catch, he tries to gently tap the ball back with his two teammates ready to seize any loose ball or battle for a turnover in the subsequent breakdown. Calvin Nash and James Lowe should be prepared for plenty of upward gazing at Twickenham.
Rumours circulating from the England team suggest players are growing weary of the emphasis on defence over offence. This sentiment seems contradictory with the initiation of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for his debut game. It would be preposterous to involve a 21-year-old without a solid idea of what the offensive strategy is and ensuring adequate repetitions, wouldn’t it?
Borthwick’s selections for the match day 23 indicate his intent to employ club-level familiarity amongst personnel. Feyi-Waboso and Henry Slade team up at the outside centre for Exeter Chiefs employing a blitz defence. The duo’s rapport should assist the former to find his footing. The Leicester Tigers seen Genge and Cole practising scrummaging before the latter shifted base to Bristol. The substitutes list features several Harlequins.
The team cohesion is anticipated to be enhanced due to their prior interactions at their respective clubs, especially when Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, and Marcus Smith come into the play. Cunningham-South had been a member of the Under-20 England team that faced defeat by Ireland in the Grand Slam game in Cork the previous year.
Ireland’s exceptional test match track record is often credited to the amount of players from a single province, yielding a mutual understanding via familiarity.
England’s head coach is systematic and constant in his approach, choosing gradual change over sudden shifts. Despite critics finding the rate of change insufficient, he remains determined, focusing on his strategy amidst distractions. The host team’s goal for the day isn’t to carve out a definitive style of play, but to discover a strategy that secures them a Test match win.
However, preventing Ireland from claiming victory could be a challenge unless the visiting team inadvertently contributes to their own downfall, either through nervous passes against a blitz defence or a breakdown of their set pieces.
There’s currently no evidence pointing to this possibility. Andy Farrell’s team seem fully invested and confident. As long as they remain properly aligned, there’s unlikely to be any angst-filled moments for Irish supporters. However, it won’t be a walkover for the Irish, they have to work for every point they earn.