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 prepare to face France in their final Six Nations match, with minimal changes expected to the squad.
Sticking to the Plan Amid Criticism
Despite suffering three consecutive losses, including a historic first defeat by Italy, England are doubling down on their kicking strategy. Steve Borthwick's side has faced intense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike, with many questioning the rigid adherence to a tactic that has yielded diminishing returns. England have kicked more times and for greater distances than any other team in the Six Nations, a approach that proved successful during a 12-match winning run last autumn but has since faltered.
Matt Dawson, the 2003 World Cup winner, has issued a stark warning, suggesting that persisting with this strategy in Paris would be a red flag against England's coaching ticket. The Rugby Football Union felt compelled to offer Borthwick a qualified vote of confidence following the Italy loss, highlighting the mounting pressure on the coaching staff.
Spencer's Unwavering Belief
Ben Spencer, selected for his box-kicking expertise, revealed that the gameplan is unlikely to change. He argued that England did not kick enough in their previous defeats to Scotland and Ireland, both of whom out-kicked them. Our plan has stayed the same or we haven't changed our plan too much game to game. We've seen results from it so I don't think we need to change too much, Spencer stated. We all believe in the plan. We haven't gone too far away from what we did when we had 12 wins on the spin.
He elaborated on the nuances of the kicking game, emphasizing accuracy and implementation over sheer volume. Whether it's kick to compete, kick to score, kick to turn teams, I think we got a lot back in the air at the weekend, Spencer noted, praising the wingers for their efforts. He attributed the loss to Italy to lapses in the final 20 minutes, not the kicking strategy itself.
Team Alignment and Execution
Spencer stressed that the players are fully aligned with the coaches on the gameplan. 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. And then on Saturday night, it's up to us to implement that gameplan and execute it as best as we can, he said. This unity suggests a collective commitment to the strategy, despite external criticism.
Tom Roebuck, who is set to remain on the wing, acknowledged the perceived randomness of kicking contests but highlighted the skill involved. We speak about being able to win the middle and the air, getting your body in the contest, not going in half hearted. 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, Roebuck explained.
Squad Updates and Challenges
Borthwick is anticipated to make only minor adjustments to the lineup for the France match. Tom Curry has been ruled out due to a calf injury sustained during the warm-up against Italy. Tommy Freeman is likely to continue at centre, with Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade not travelling to the training camp in Verona, ensuring Roebuck retains his wing position.
As England head to Paris, the focus remains on executing their plan with precision. Roebuck summed up the team's mindset: 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, rather than, like we haven't been recently, bringing a bit less of it. The outcome will test whether faith in the kicking strategy can translate into a much-needed victory.
