England's attack must fire against Italy to appease weary fans

Telegraph

03-03-2025

Jeopardy does not dissipate in Test rugby union. After two mightily tight victories, England welcome Italy to the Allianz Stadium and must maintain momentum.
Another edgy win, one senses, will not be enough to appease supporters. Most of them will be baying for a convincing performance underpinned by attacking intent. Here, in no particular order, are nine aspects that England will want to tick off on what feels like a significant weekend for attack coach Richard Wigglesworth.
Show some new ideas
Drawing too many parallels between an England A game and a Test match is fraught with danger, chiefly because the whole purpose of organising more second-string fixtures was for the Rugby Football Union to allow prospective internationals to play without fear of failure.
That said, Lee Blackett's outfit exuded conviction eight days ago in a 28-12 win over their Irish counterparts. In November, too, against Australia A, England A attacked with fluidity and verve. Both performances came after minimal preparation time.
Among the highlights against Ireland at Ashton Gate was this two-phase strike play, which saw Ollie Hassell-Collins hide behind two forwards before bolting in front of Phil Brantingham to receive George Kloska's inside pass:
Wee need to talk about this hidden inside ball: Ollie Hassell-Collins arriving on the right shoulder of George Kloska and cutting through a forward pod to slice the defence. Very smart two-phase strike.
England A doing an Ireland on Ireland A. pic.twitter.com/n3blIuqY5f
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) February 24, 2025
It is a gorgeous spin on a trendy move that was, ironically, reintroduced to some fanfare by Ireland in South Africa last summer. England A attempted it again in the second half on the other wing, with less success. This clip, in slow motion, shows how George Hendy cannot hold Luke Green's pass:
But when was the last time that England seniors unfurled something as creative? This strike against Japan in November began with Ben Earl in the receiver slot…
…before he arced all the way into midfield to play a pull-back pass behind Marcus Smith to Fin Smith:
Otherwise, though, there have not been too many eye-catching ploys, or much in the way of invention beyond line-out peels like this, where George Martin is the surprise carrier:
While nobody is asking for gratuitous gimmicks, one or two trick plays on Sunday would show that ideas are being explored.
Close-range conviction
England A's first try arrived from a familiar shape, with Max Ojomoh's pull-back behind Joe Carpenter and an overhead flick from Charlie Atkinson allowing Tobias Elliott to feed Hassell-Collins:
Teamwork makes the dream work 🤝
Ollie Hassell-Collins finishes off a fine team move to put England A ahead against Ireland A. @EnglandRugby | @ollie_hc | @LeicesterTigers pic.twitter.com/nXlivHcUAL
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) February 23, 2025
Look familiar? It should. It is a variation on the move for Elliot Daly's try against France. The difference is that it happens after several continuous phases rather than directly from a set-piece. England A's backs had the wherewithal to organise themselves on the hoof. Carpenter, for instance, hits a hard angle that would normally be taken by a burly centre.
In the past, England seniors have tended to become muddled in the 'red zone' close to the try-line. Level with Scotland at 10-10 in the second half, when a try would have put a different complexion on the final quarter, they could not capitalise on a penalty advantage. England grew clunky and disorganised…
…and eventually settled for three points rather than five or seven. Driving mauls and powerful pick-and-go routines convert pressure into points. As England A demonstrated, back-line patterns have the potential to do the same.
Tip-ons and offloads
The opening 11 minutes of the November loss to Australia, featuring two tries finished by Chandler Cunningham-South, contained some of England's slickest attack under Steve Borthwick to date. Interplay between forwards was a common theme, with Tom Curry, Jamie George and Ellis Genge moving the ball for the first score:
Chandler Cunningham-South with a cold try! 🥶
📺 Catch the action live on @rugbyontnt #ENGvAUS #EnglandvsAustralia pic.twitter.com/gdRPz0ynvo
— Autumn Nations Series (@autumnnations) November 9, 2024
Cunningham-South's second was started by George's tip-on to Tom Curry, which allowed the latter to burst up the middle.
Carriers like Tom Willis, Ben Earl and Genge are far more dangerous if England can shift the point of contact with short passes on the gain line. Offloading is a game-breaking skill, too. On the stroke of half-time against Scotland, England demonstrated admirable ambition by whipping the ball into their back line rather than simply ending the first period.
Ollie Lawrence's first offload freed Marcus Smith. Had his second been softer, Ollie Sleigtholme would have walked in:
If Borthwick is practising what he preaches about developing attacking weapons, England will continue to attempt these passes. Slade could not quite link with Lawrence in the second half…
…with Genge and Cunningham-South slightly off with their timing around 10 minutes later:
This is a great example of a tip-on working, Lawrence slipping the ball to Earl to puncture Scotland's midfield and earn a penalty:
These passes can be worth seven points when they come off. More will stick if England continue to refine them.
Greater synergy between the Smiths
There have been promising hints of chemistry between Fin Smith and Marcus Smith. Here, in the opening seconds of the Scotland game, after Maro Itoje has gathered a loose ball from Ben White's first box-kick, England click into shape quickly. Marcus Smith slots in behind Ellis Genge to receive a pull-back and Fin Smith ends up at inside centre. He finds Henry Slade and Scotland are pinned back:
Could England have spread the ball wider with a pass from Slade to Lawrence? Perhaps. But the kick sets up an opportunity to pressure Scotland's line-out. As it turns out, England concede a free-kick, which is another lesson. Good discipline will help their attack.
Later, the connection between the Smiths was not as smooth. From a Jamie George jackal, on the back of a Fin Smith cross-field bomb that pressurises Scotland, England carve out a gilt-edged chance in the opposition 22. Fin Smith could have found Marcus with a pull-back here, which would have put the latter and Daly in a huge amount of space. Instead, Slade is played as the 'front-door' option…
…and the ball is spilt. Another two weeks in training should have sharpened this synergy. Together, provided they stay as the 10-15 combination, the Smiths can ensure that England's shape keeps its integrity and there is sufficient depth and width. That said, Marcus Smith should be trusted to dart flat in distinctive style when opportunities arise.
Positive kicking and ambition in transition
Brace yourselves; because there will be box-kicks. If and when possession is won back in those aerial contests, England should challenge themselves to capitalise on broken-field situations. The same goes for when their defence forces turnovers.
There should be adaptability and restraint. England might plan to kick on the second phase after a set-piece. But if a carry injects impetus, they should be able to keep the ball in hand. Variation with the boot is crucial. This was a cute grubber from Fin Smith, superbly gathered by Slade, that launched an attack by turning Scotland:
A repertoire of kick-passes and cross-field chips can lay on tries as well.
Threaten from deep
At the beginning of the 2022 Premiership final, Leicester Tigers spread the ball all the way across their own 22, causing gasps in the crowd. Matías Moroni cleared from out wide, and the game developed into a kick-fest, but Borthwick's side had sowed a tiny seed of uncertainty. Would they open up? Should Saracens push more defenders from the back-field into the front line?
England do have the capacity to play from their own half. Here, following a spill from Blair Kinghorn in the first half, they use the advantage to move the ball towards the left touchline. On the back of Lawrence's offload, Slade grubbers down-field. Scotland play themselves into trouble with a quick throw and Earl misses a big chance for a jackal turnover:
pic.twitter.com/pTe6FiUB1q
— Charlie Morgan (@CharlieFelix) March 2, 2025
Borthwick teams are built on efficiency and tend to make sensible decisions within their own territory. England will have to respect Italy's jackal threats, such as Manuel Zuliani. But they should also trust themselves to play to space from deeper positions, because that will reap rewards.
Touches for wings
Ollie Sleightholme recorded just two attacking touches against Scotland and five against France, according to Stats Perform. Tommy Freeman has become more proactive, roaming off his wing to influence attacks, yet only picked up six attacking touches over a tense Calcutta Cup contest. Lawrence (six attacking touches) and Slade (seven) were similarly peripheral.
A tactical template of kicking and defensive pressure can estrange outside backs. With more poise in possession, England will involve theirs and increase those tallies of attacking touches.
Finish off breaks
England pride themselves on off-the-ball graft when it comes to chasing kicks and defensive scrambling. The same should apply to support running. They are a fit side, which can translate to long-range tries when the defensive line is broken.
Tie it together with basics
This, the unsexy section, should be at the top. In the tight exchanges, England's keynote carriers – Genge, Willis, Earl, Lawrence and perhaps Luke Cowan-Dickie and Freeman – need to be sturdy and secure to punch holes. As a collective, Borthwick's charges must gather restarts cleanly and be accurate at the breakdown, generating quick rucks, for everything else to come together. Flopping clear-outs, such as this one from Genge against France…
…and this one from Earl a fortnight later against Scotland…
…have conceded penalties and stunted impetus. Tidy line-out work and scrummaging will lay a platform and there has to be a ruthless attitude. England have never lost to Italy, who shipped 73 points at home last time out. The onus is on them to deliver a dominant display.