Finally! After all Eddie’s stale negativity, England can try something new

ICANNOT wait to go to Twickenham next Saturday for the Calcutta Cup. It’s the first time in a while I’ve been excited to watch England play because it had just become such a negative and repetitive experience under Eddie Jones.

Steve Borthwick is starting with a clean slate. He can get the supporters back on their feet and give English rugby the shot in the arm it needs. Throw everything at it, shake off the hangover of the Jones regime and don’t let that doom and gloom back in.

It all starts with his team selection and I would love to see some new combinations, starting with Dan Kelly and Joe Marchant in the centres. I’ve played alongside Marchant at Harlequins and had a closer look at Kelly while I’ve been training with Leicester over the last few weeks.

Marchant’s so athletic and I feel like he should be given the first chance to nail down the 13 shirt. Kelly is a tough lad who came through the ranks under Borthwick and will add the physicality England need from a No12. The World Cup is later this year so find out now if it works. There is bound to be a bit of trial and error but they have the characteristics to hit it off. When was the last time Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade really fired for England? Probably the 2019 World Cup.

It feels like things got a bit stale and it would add some energy to the team if they try a couple of fresh combinations. Bringing in Nick Evans to work with the attack was a big call. He comes from a different school of thought to Borthwick, who focuses so much on the fundamentals like set piece, physicality, kick pressure. Real clarity. The fight is non-negotiable: that’s the motto Borthwick left behind at Leicester.

Evans’s mantra is ‘speed over shape’. Playing on top of teams with quick, unstructured play and offloading. In the past, England have used rugby league-style shapes that look pretty but weren’t consistently effective. Evans is all about unbelievable ruck speed, under three seconds, then playing on top of a retreating defence. It’s about having a feel for the game, getting into holes, flooding channels, moving the ball into space. Trusting your instincts, rather than orchestrated calls.

If they can marry up their contrasting styles then England will be a real force. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them playing to kicking systems in their own half, and then really opening up when they get beyond the halfway line. Owen Farrell has added layers to his game at Saracens this season and, as captain, I would not be surprised to see him put in charge of that in the No 10 jersey.

I think they’ll win their first three matches to get the ball rolling and leave the Jones era in the past. France and Ireland will be tougher challenges and probably come a bit too soon, but I would not be shocked if England surprise a few people.