Having done it in France in 2020, at home to Scotland in 2021 and now up at Murrayfield this year, England are making a nasty habit of losing their opening game of the Six Nations.
For fans and players, that can feel like a real anti-climax, having waited with such excitement for the championship.
But for England, it should not be all doom and gloom. They won the title narrowly two years ago and can again this time, although each fixture is absolutely do or die.
The fixture list is laid out quite nicely for England now. If there is a game you would want right now, it would be Italy. After that come Wales, then Ireland at home, then France away. You would say that, with the first out of the way, each of those fixtures is harder than the last. England should be treating it like building through a World Cup campaign.
There is always expectation for England, but it’s a bit different in Italy week. People expect new faces and plenty of points. Well, England are a slightly unfamiliar team with so many new combinations already, so Eddie Jones will try to consolidate what he is building. It is already a relatively inexperienced group with a brand new leadership team.
My advice to England would be: feel angry and frustrated about losing to Scotland (because the rest of the country are), but use that anger and frustration in a calm, clinical way. Do not take liberties with the game. Bring the pace and intensity that you would to any other fixture. Do that and the rewards will come, just as they did for France last week.
England won’t necessarily put the game to bed early, but if they are respectful, do the basics well and convert pressure into points, they will win.
That should be England’s big work moving on from last week. They have to be more ruthless. They had all the territory and possession in the first half at Murrayfield, but went to the break four points down. They made poor decisions late in the game, and were unable to reflect their dominance on the scoreboard. They need to be more accurate.
England’s two excellent No8s, Sam Simmonds and Alex Dombrandt, were not the most conspicuous players on the field last week, but I expect them to play a greater role this time. Both are in prime form for their clubs and I hope that we see that translated on to the international stage on Sunday.
A game in Rome is always a wonderful occasion. I was fortunate enough to captain England in Italy’s first-ever Six Nations game, back in 2000. It was special for everyone, but a real privilege for me, given my Italian heritage. It was an amazing opportunity for me and we won comfortably. England have still not lost to Italy. I would add that Rome definitely has the best post-match reception I ever attended. I would say to all those advocating Italy’s removal from the Six Nations to be careful what you wish for, because the hospitality is fantastic and it’s a sensational weekend. I have no doubt that there will be many English couples over there this weekend enjoying Valentine’s weekend, with maybe a spot of rugby thrown in too!
I was fearful for Italy before their trip to Paris but, helped by some poor weather that levelled the playing field a little in the first half, they held their own. It is perhaps worrying that they lose 37-10 and we commend them for not capitulating but, having lost 33 Six Nations games in a row, that is the state of affairs.
The Six Nations is a tough school for Italy, but I do think they are improving. The clubs, like Benetton, are improving, and there are promising players coming through.
Greater investment is required in the game there, because simply not enough schools play the game in the country.
I would like to see World Rugby look at giving them a World Cup, because we have seen the impact that had on Japan.
Headlines elsewhere on stellar Saturday
It is unusual for this to be the case, but England’s fixture this weekend feels a bit of a footnote.
I think that is no bad thing for them. Coming on Sunday after what should be an absolutely epic Saturday might just help England as they feel their way into the Championship.
Tomorrow should be sensational.
Wales hosting Scotland should be a belting fixture. There’s a lot of doom and gloom around the Welsh game and they did start the campaign very poorly against Ireland, but they are the champions and they will be back in front of their own crowd, which makes such a big difference.
Scotland, meanwhile, are flying high. However, although they won in Llanelli two years ago (with the game played there because of the Covid pandemic), they have failed to win in Cardiff since 2002. That’s 20 years!
They have beaten Wales only four times in that period, so it is a very tough fixture for an outstanding Scotland side.
Let’s be honest, though, all eyes are on Paris, where France host Ireland.
Both teams beat the All Blacks in November and many are billing this as a Championship decider.
Until I heard about Johnny Sexton’s injury, I really felt Ireland had everything it takes to win this game. They look in great shape and are on a nine-match winning streak, but I do feel Sexton’s injury tips things France’s way because, as captain, kicker and fly-half, he is so important to the way Ireland play.
France are a wonderful side who grew as their game went on against Italy. They are two years into a long-term project, which will culminate at next year’s World Cup, which is on home soil for them, and now seems like the perfect time to secure some silverware and cement their place among the favourites for that tournament.
To achieve that, this is exactly the kind of fixture they have to win.
