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The key element in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup game can be described in a single word: confidence. England must have faith in their aggressive defensive approach, even when errors occur, and maintain it for the entire 80 minutes. They can be sure that Finn Russell possesses an abundance of belief and a remarkable talent for quickly rebounding from mistakes.

It’s no secret that learning a new defensive strategy is challenging, especially during the Six Nations tournament. My first experience with a blitz defense was in 2005 while playing for Harlequins, and unfortunately, it was also the year we were demoted. While there were other factors involved, our defensive performance certainly played a role.

There are numerous factors involved, making it impossible to achieve perfection immediately. The second instance where I encountered this was during the British & Irish Lions in 2009, where belief was vital for its success. It involves being in a high position and potentially disregarding half of the field. Shaun Edwards, the Lions’ defense coach in 2009, devised various drills that instilled confidence in the edge defenders to fully commit to the system. Belief and confidence are crucial in this process.

I have observed that this England team has displayed strong belief and confidence in their first two matches. While they struggled defensively in the first half of their win against Italy, they showed significant improvement in the second half with increased line speed and aggression. It is natural for one to become passive when lacking belief, but I see this side becoming more assertive. Although they are still making mistakes, it is expected, and I believe this break has come at a crucial time for England to address and rectify as many errors as possible. However, they will face Russell, who is skilled at exploiting weaknesses.

Russell is a player who eagerly seeks out pressure on the field. He has confidence in his abilities, which is evident in his composure, and he aims to draw opponents out of position to capitalize on their errors. He welcomes a strong defensive attack, and England must remember that in a high-pressure game against a skilled player like him, their defensive line may be breached. The key is how they react – will they become more cautious or will they rise to the challenge?

Upon examining the errors committed by England’s defense, it is evident that many of them are due to individual mistakes. These errors have occurred both in the central area and on the sides, resulting in openings in the defense and allowing for counterattacks.

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The problem is that Russell stands out among all other fly-halves in the competition due to his knack for causing mistakes in individual players. He is unpredictable and has lightning-fast decision-making and passing abilities. He entices opponents into making defensive choices that are not actually needed, creating illusions.

Henry Slade will have a crucial role as a defensive leader in the upcoming afternoon, especially since he has proven to excel in a similar blitz strategy used by Exeter. Despite starting the Six Nations in impressive form for Exeter, Slade’s performance has been lackluster in the last couple of matches. One factor could be his similarity in playing style with Fraser Dingwall, as both players prefer to pass the ball. However, the return of Ollie Lawrence makes it clear that Slade’s focus will be primarily on defense.

Lawrence brings a unique element to England’s offense and while their defensive performance will strongly impact Saturday’s outcome, there is room for growth in their offensive strategies. George Furbank has the potential to play a significant role in this. While Freddie Steward is a skilled player and performed well against Wales, the upcoming game presents a new challenge.

Furbank is a skilled athlete who excels in the sport of ball playing. He possesses a higher level of speed and agility, making him more difficult to catch. While Steward is known for his impressive abilities in contest kicking, Scotland’s playing style involves less competition in this aspect. In their recent match against France, the team opted for longer kicks instead. Without the focus on aerial threats, one may question the impact of Steward’s contributions. In comparison, if Furbank is able to showcase his full potential, he could potentially be a stronger offensive force.

In the sport of golf, they refer to the third day of a major tournament as “moving day.” Similarly, I believe that the third day of the Six Nations rugby tournament can also be seen as a crucial time for each team’s performance. I am pleasantly surprised by England’s progress in the tournament and believe they have more potential than last year’s team. If they manage to step up their game on Saturday and win, it could greatly impact their chances of winning the championship.

Source: theguardian.com