England's Ben Spencer Defends Kick-Heavy Strategy Despite Italy Loss
England scrum-half Ben Spencer has firmly defended the team's kick-heavy gameplan, asserting it was not responsible for their recent defeat to Italy in Rome. This comes as England prepares for their final Six Nations match against France in Paris, with minimal changes expected to their approach despite mounting criticism.
Sticking to the Plan Amidst Criticism
England have kicked more times and for greater distances than any other team in this year's Six Nations tournament. While this strategy contributed to a 12-match winning streak last autumn, recent losses to Scotland, Ireland, and Italy have left fans frustrated and questioning its effectiveness. Spencer, however, remains steadfast in his support for the plan.
"Our plan has stayed the same or we haven't changed our plan too much game to game," Spencer stated. "We've seen results from it so I don't think we need to change too much. We all believe in the plan."
The scrum-half, selected for his box-kicking skills against Italy, suggested that England might not have kicked enough in their previous defeats. "If you look at the two defeats we had previous to Italy, both Ireland and Scotland kicked more than us," he noted, emphasizing that execution and accuracy are crucial factors.
Coaching Under Scrutiny
Head coach Steve Borthwick and his team face intense scrutiny following England's first-ever loss to Italy. The Rugby Football Union issued a qualified vote of confidence in Borthwick on Sunday, but pressure continues to mount.
Former England World Cup winner Matt Dawson has warned that persisting with the same strategy against France would be a "red flag against England's coaching ticket." In his BBC Sport column, Dawson argued that England cannot beat France in Paris with a kick-heavy approach alone, pointing out that Scotland needed over 40 points to defeat France even at home.
Player Support and Implementation
Spencer revealed that the players remain fully aligned with the coaching staff. "As players, we're fully aligned with the coaches in terms of the way we want to move forward and where we want to go with the gameplan," he said. "And then on Saturday night, it's up to us to implement that gameplan and execute it as best as we can."
He highlighted positive aspects from the Italy match, noting that England's wingers excelled in aerial contests for much of the game. "For 60-65 minutes the game was there to be won," Spencer recalled. "A couple of things in the last 20 minutes let us down, but it wasn't our kicking game that [cost us]."
Team News and Preparation
Borthwick is anticipated to make only minor adjustments to the squad for the France clash. Tom Curry has been ruled out due to a calf injury sustained during warm-ups, while Tommy Freeman is likely to continue at center. Neither Ollie Lawrence nor Henry Slade traveled to England's training camp in Verona, with Tom Roebuck expected to remain on the wing.
Roebuck addressed perceptions of the kicking contest, describing it as a skill rather than mere randomness. "We speak about being able to win the middle and the air, getting your body in the contest, not going in half hearted," he explained. "Yes, it is random, but if we can put a skill to it and make sure we're better than other teams it can go our way."
He emphasized the importance of bringing their best version to the game, stating: "When we're on our best we can go and beat teams. We just want to make sure we stick to it, bring the best version to it."
As England heads to Paris, the team's commitment to their controversial strategy will be put to the test, with results likely to influence both their Six Nations standing and the future of their coaching staff.
