England must smarten up to avoid ugly ending

Up and down: England came out second best in this line-out and numerous other set-pieces at Murrayfield last week but won thanks to their sterling defensive work
10 April 2012

This has been a good week for Italian fans looking for ­mystical signs that another momentous day in the ­history of their rugby team is about to unfold tomorrow.

While not exactly being a case of the Ides of March, the arrival of heavy snow in Rome for the first time in 30 years this week forced the closure of the Colosseum and points to strange goings on in the Eternal City.

The arctic conditions are predicted to return for kick-off of the match against England at the Stadio Olimpico, transforming the capital, once again, into an ancient ice rink.

Italians - well those who follow rugby rather than football - went delirious last March when they recorded a first Six Nations win over France and now the reigning champions have arrived in the city, more vulnerable than ever, despite a 13-6 win over Scotland last weekend.

Italy have never beaten England and Martin Castrogiovanni, the Leicester tight-head, believes his team will have to be "perfect" to make this another landmark moment.

They lost 30-12 against France in Paris last
Saturday and while that suggests the normal rugby order of things has been restored, there were enough signs of Italian ball retention and forward power to ensure Stuart Lancaster has spent the week hammering home the kind of messages that are always written on the white board when a trip to Rome is dissected in team meetings.

The interim England head coach has spelt out the difficulty of getting the ball off the Italian pack who are happy to rumble forward, five metres at a time, to either suck in the defence or force a penalty.

It is hardly rocket science but even when the opposition know what is coming, it is still fiendishly difficult to stop without considerable power and self-discipline.

That is one reason why Phil Dowson, the 30-year-old Northampton No8, held off the challenge of Scarlets back row powerhouse Ben Morgan, 22. ­

Dowson will be asked to use his ­experience and grafting skills to help nullify the Italian pack before Morgan's raw power is unleashed in the second half to, hopefully, barge through a tiring home defence.

Given the way Scotland exposed weaknesses in the new-look England side, Lancaster is acutely aware of the potential damage Italy could cause with their bludgeon-like approach to Test rugby.

Analogies with gladiatorial contests and a baying crowd were more relevant when the Italians played at the Stadio Flaminio.

However, the quirky arena is being redeveloped and that means a potential 75,000 crowd at the Olimpico will be much further away from the action, lessening the intimidating atmosphere for the English youngsters.

England had some sobering moments at the Stadio Flaminio, struggling to wins on their last two visits, most ­notably in 2010 when a 17-12 victory was followed by a delusional verdict from captain Steve Borthwick, who thought his team had played well when everyone else knew they stank.

A repeat of that fumbling, blinkered approach will earn a first defeat by the Azzurri which is why Lancaster, backs coach Andy Farrell and forwards coach Graham Rowntree have spent the week urging their men to build on Murrayfield's marvellous defensive action by adding attacking threat to the equation. That is easy to demand and harder to deliver against Italy, who attack you at the scrum and line-out and get bodies over the ball at the break down.

Secure set-piece possession is mandatory if you are to avoid another gruelling arm wrestle against Castrogiovanni and his mates and while England showed courage and commitment against the Scots, the scrum and line-out work was, at times, shoddy.

The scramble defence worked hard to snuff out Scottish line breaks but the home side's own attacking limitations contributed greatly to England's cause and while the Italian backs are second division in terms of world-class players, they will not butcher the kind of try-scoring opportunities that contributed hugely to Dan Parks's decision to retire from his role as Scotland's No10.

Farrell, whose 20-year-old son Owen will again have the England kicking duties, saw Scotland exploit a defence that, at times, was too narrow, opening up space wider out that a more effective team than the Scots would have really exposed.

Italy do not have the passing skills to deliver the kind of rugby that Wales, Ireland and France would use to cut open England but even one break through would send the crowd in raptures and leave captain Chris Robshaw facing a championship-defining team talk under the English posts.

England have to strike early and show real poise to maintain their unbeaten record against Italy and with snow and sleet forecast for the match this is going to be another cold and uncomfortable challenge for Lancaster's new-look team but they will emerge victorious and better for the experience.

Coverage is brought to you in association with Greene King IPA, crafted in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk , with 100% English ingredients and with over 200 years of passion and dedication in every pint.

To win the chance to train with the England squad go to properpint.co.uk

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