Six Nations 2020: How will title-chasing England attempt to pile points on Italy?

An unsolicited Barbarians booze-up means England’s autumn schedule has suffered a false start. And now, to snatch the Championship title at the end of a protracted 2020 Six Nations, they need to hit the ground running.

Trailing Ireland and level with France, England require a comfortable win over Italy that boosts their points difference – currently standing at +15. These manic Super Saturdays usually come at the end, rather than the beginning, of an international campaign. With that in mind, how do England approach a unique task?

A foundation of disruptive defence

Ireland mercilessly bullied Italy at the breakdown on Saturday, plundering 11 steals. Clearly, stout defence is handy for points differential in itself. But disruptive, disciplined jackalling and tackling – as you would expect from England under the new law focus with Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and new boy Jack Willis around – also generates attacking opportunities.

Of their seven tries in Dublin, Ireland scored two in transition situations directly from turnovers as hapless Italy regrouped. Nineteen months ago, when England thrashed the Azzurri 57-14 at Twickenham, George Kruis created two tries with charge-downs.

In 2015, when England mounted a last-day chase for the Six Nations title, they conceded 35 points to France. Because of those failings, piling up 55 themselves was not enough and Ireland lifted the trophy. John Mitchell describes defence as “a way to feed our attack”. That mantra should be a theme of the week. Paolo Garbisi, Italy’s 20-year-old fly-half, will be harried and hassled all afternoon.

Mauling, muscle and set-piece precision

Should they fail to top the table, Eddie Jones will rue England’s profligacy in the opposition 22 at the Stade de France way back on February 1. Handling errors, sloppy support play and a lack of heft hurt them.

Within his group of forwards, Matt Proudfoot can tap into club combinations. There is Charlie Ewels, the leader of Bath’s lineout. His quartet of clubmates – Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, Will Stuart and Underhill – are fine maulers, likewise Jonny Hill and Harry Williams of Exeter Chiefs.

Itoje, Jamie George, the Vunipola brothers and loanee Ben Earl are familiar from years together at Saracens. They provide rare cohesion. Whoever makes the starting eight, and whether or not Jones persists with a six-two split of forwards on the bench, England should be coordinated and powerful enough to deliver a set-piece platform and capitalise on close-range chances.

Backline brawn

Discussing the absence of Manu Tuilagi recently, Jones argued that backline hole-punchers are essential and highlighted Caleb Clarke’s performance against Australia at Eden Park earlier this month.

Clarke shrugged off 14 tackles over the course of a 27-7 win for New Zealand, during which he roamed across the field. Here, the 21-year-old pops up next to a ruck, linking up with acting scrum-half Ardie Savea to cause havoc:

Joe Cokanasiga and Ollie Thorley are two tackle-breaking wings capable of generating momentum in heavy traffic for England. Elsewhere, low-slung Ollie Lawrence fits Jones’ suggestion that centres have become like American football running backs.

Much like Tuilagi, the Worcester Warriors youngster can devastate defences when either carving out-to-in angles or arcing towards the outside shoulder of opponents.

Jones pointed out that passes between 12s and 13s, in the traditional sense, are rare. But it is a popular trend from strike-moves for inside centres to step up at first-receiver with an outside centre charging on a tight angle and a fly-half fading in behind.

In this case, Lawrence receives a short pass from his inside centre and tears through London Irish:

Joe Marchant is adept at these slicing carries as well. Remember his first Test try in the Rugby World Cup 2019 warm-up against Italy:

The use of these midfield tyros will be fascinating. Jones has shown that he is not afraid to shift Henry Slade and Jonathan Joseph to the back three.

Harnessing ruck speed

Aaron Smith’s score for the All Blacks against Australia was as direct as they come. From a five-metre scrum, Smith found Jack Goodhue, who ran at the Wallabies line with Peter Umaga-Jensen – the cousin of Jacob Umaga – for company as Richie Mo’unga faded behind his centres. Goodhue punctured the gain-line and Smith burrowed over from the next phase:

At the start of September, when asked about which players might thrive under the new law focus and quicker rucks, Jones said this:

That prediction came to mind as Umaga darted through Exeter at the weekend. His scrum-half, Dan Robson, had zig-zagged down the 15-metre channel until Wasps generated a quick ruck.

Robson, who has been given a chance to pressurise Ben Youngs and Willi Heinz for England game-time, then arced into the openside. Crucially, right wing Zach Kibirige leaves his post to hover on the left shoulder of Robson – just as Clarke does in the clip above:

This encourages Jonny Hill to bite and Umaga takes the space, bypassing Harry Williams and beating Stuart Hogg to score after gathering Robson’s pass:

Kyle Sinckler and the Vunipola brothers, as well as Underhill, definitely count as “forwards who can run good lines”. Willis bought a penalty on Saturday with this clever pick-and-go:

Stats Perform calculated that 76 of Ireland’s 95 rucks against Italy – an impressive 80 per cent – were completed in three seconds or less. A similar return would suit the flat, fast attack that England have cultivated under Jones.

Playing to space with patience

England need at least four tries on Saturday, so urgency is essential. They will impart width, kick to space and throw offloads where appropriate. But patience is vital, too. The danger of over-playing was demonstrated by Johnny Sexton last weekend when Edoardo Padovani intercepted his pass to score.

Back in 2014, England travelled to Rome in similar circumstances, pursuing a big win. With 12 minutes to go, they were leading 45-6 and endeavoured to break out from their own half following an Italy restart. Joe Launchbury attempted to find Mako Vunipola out wide. Leonardo Sarto pouched the pass and sprinted clear, setting the visitors back.

This weekend, England can afford to bide their time during kicking exchanges and control territory while they wait for Italy to commit errors or misjudge clearances. They should not be afraid to take points from penalties and build a score, either.

Whatever the make-up of Jones’ 23, England will have a loaded bench. Earl and Max Malins, a dark horse for a squad berth given his versatility and existing playmaking relationship with Farrell, have been involved in spectacular points flurries for Bristol Bears.

A six-two split of forwards among the replacements can grind opponents into the dust, opening up more space for the pace of Jonny May and Anthony Watson late on.

Russ Petty points out that England have pummelled Italy in second halves over recent years. Since the start of Jones’ tenure – he introduced Itoje as part of a six-two split in his second game in charge at the Stadio Olimpico – the average score over the final 40 minutes across five fixtures is 29-3. England have amassed an aggregate of 143 second-half points to Italy’s 17 in that period.

Come on strong once more and Jones’ charges will put themselves in a good position to land a first Six Nations title since 2017.