Burgess and Farrell are important – but the bench will win the game
England go into a tough encounter against perennial rivals Wales, and Pete takes a look at Bombers changes for the game.
"Breaking News! Coach makes tactical change to team in shock adherence to job description!"
Is what I have said to myself sardonically about all these articles talking about the "gamble" of dropping Ford and including Burgess over Slade.
Let’s break it down into the individual changes before looking at the backline as a whole – and then the most important aspect of England’s tactics: the bench.
Farrell for Ford – Ford didn’t look at his mercurial best against Fiji. He is, undoubtedly, the better attacking fly-half with ball in hand, but here his arsenal is not what will be required to break down the Wales defence – initially. Ford gives up about 10cm and 10kg to Farrell, who is better defensively and also in contact. Speed will not be an issue in England’s attack in the first 40-50 minutes against Wales. Farrell is there as the better place kicker, the better tackler, stronger, heavier, taller, and nastier. I am not saying the Ford has anything as a weakness, Farrell simply excels where Ford is competent, in the same way that Ford excels where Farrell is competent. This is all about tactical decisions. And against Wales, with a large, strong backline that comes up quickly and more importantly in large numbers in defence and runs into men rather than spaces in attack, this is the most sensible call – initially. When the game is softened up, when Wales have had Barritt and Burgess and Farrell softening them up, when their bruises are smarting hardest, bring on the impish, dangerous Ford to run rings around them, pin them in the corners of the their 22 and tire them out.
Let’s look at Burgess over Slade – it isn’t hard. Burgess has plenty of big game experience, this pressure won’t rattle him. Expect Slade to start, or at least be on the bench for the Uruguay game, and if Joseph is still injured, potentially he starts against Australia. But this situation calls for Burgess. He played well off the bench against Fiji, but most important is his offload game. Gaps won’t appear for sneaky Dan Lugerish wingers to run through, no amount of side-stepping will open gates in the Wales backline. We will have to smash our way through, and Burgess the Destroyer is the man for the job. Yes, Slade is a potent weapon in attack, but it is horses for courses. Remember Mathew Tait.
And the backline in general? Farrell, Barritt and Burgess says only one thing: power. And yes, Wales will know what is coming, but with Joseph out, there was only one real option, and in all probability these changes would probably have happened anyway. This is the way Stuart Lancaster has decided to try and beat Wales, and it makes sense, it is logical and certainly makes me feel quietly confident.
The most important aspect of this side’s selection, though, in my opinion, is the bench. Here’s the scenario. With 60 minutes gone, England lead Wales 21-15. Wales have scored five penalties but cannot break through England’s defence (which is occasionally reliant on Tom Wood’s ability to remain invisible to referees), England three tries – all of them battering ram quick phase-play efforts, two from turnover ball in the tackle. England have hammered Wales at the set-piece and in defence, and punched holes all day. Wales are bruised but always alert, always dangerous. The referee pauses for some England substitutions. Tom Wood comes off for James Haskell, Burgess comes off for Ford, and May comes off for Alex Goode. Suddenly, England have a new enforcer, a new battering ram, one who has been raring to go since kick off and is desperate to take advantage of Ben Morgan’s injury. Haskell will be off the shoulder of the first receiver at every other ruck. And now, of course, England have gone from one first receiver to three. Admittedly only two have that magical ability to open holes anywhere, but now Wales are tired they can. Goode and Ford start finding little holes to pop Tom Youngs, Haskell, Vunipola and – oh – another Vunipola has just arrived off the bench, ready to take part in the smashing game.
Ultimately, it could all go horribly wrong and we could lose by 30 points like that terrible Six Nations last year. But the fact is that Lancaster’s selections are not a gamble, they are a clear, logical, sensible plan.
And for all these interviews talking about how devastated Ford is – perhaps spare a thought for Ben Morgan, out through injury, and arguably very much part of England’s plan regardless of tactical change. Ford would probably have been rotated regardless of his performance against Fiji. The change is a tactical one. "Rotated" is indeed the word, not "dropped". Let’s see how ‘the plan works out’ rather than if ‘the gamble pays off’.
Filed under:
Rugby World Cup, England
Written by: Peter Randall
Follow: @uxbridgewolf · @therugbymag