ENGLAND NEED all the positive vibes they can muster ahead of Saturday’s game against Wales in Cardiff and last night’s injury bulletin, if nothing else, has slightly increased Martin Johnson’s options ahead of today’s team announcement. Mike Tindall is set to regain his place at centre after making a good recovery from the back injury which ruled him out of the Italy game while winger Ugo Monye is also available.
Danny Care, however, has failed to shake off the ankle ligament injury he sustained slipping on steps at the team hotel last week. London Irish’s Paul Hodgson has been summoned as cover, although his chances of featuring at the Millennium Stadium appear remote.
Tindall can only hope his personal fortunes are about to change. His last appearance for England was against the Welsh 12 months ago when he ended up in intensive care with a torn liver.
It will not matter which individuals Johnson selects, though, if there is not a dramatic increase in collective tempo and cohesion. Closer analysis of Saturday’s uninspiring Italian job suggested England never managed to keep possession through five phases against modest opposition, while their kicking out of hand was similarly off key.
Regardless of who is fit to play in the Welsh backline, it will be carnage if the defending champions are given time and space.
There are the recurring issues, too, of quick ball and ponderous selection. Given their shaky autumn launchpad, there will be no shame in England not winning the Six Nations title but it will be scandalous if they reach the end of March having failed to unearth at least a couple of players who have transformed potential into something more solid.
Dylan Hartley may or may not be the answer at hooker but it is unfair to keep throwing him on at the end of games in which England are either trailing badly or lacking momentum.
Harry Ellis will no doubt retain the number nine jersey but, given Care’s injury, his return hardly counts as proactive selection.
By overlooking three nominated replacements – Ben Foden, Shane Geraghty and Mathew Tait – in favour of Ellis, Andy Goode and Jamie Noon for last Saturday’s starting line-up, the impression has also been given, rightly or wrongly, that Johnson did not trust the former triumvirate. True, England have tough away games coming up in Cardiff and Dublin but Tait, Geraghty and Danny Cipriani all need faith to be shown in their abilities, rather than being endlessly mucked around in the name of short-term expediency.
There is every sign, nevertheless, that Johnson views the Italy and Wales games as a twin-pronged package. Having picked Goode he can hardly drop him like a hot potato and maintain his oft-stated stance about the importance of continuity. Would Toby Flood be a better bet at number 10 against Wales? Given he has been suffering from a sore calf, it is hard to make a convincing case.
Geraghty? Like Tait he seems to be regarded as better suited to a less structured environment as a second-half substitute. Either way England have an extra day to recuperate compared with the Welsh and their sevens team have won the Wellington leg of the IRB Sevens series. There is no need to panic just yet.
- Guardian Service
