After "Boring" Six Nations Now Looking Towards The Rugby World Cup

“I’ve actually got big concerns about the game at the moment, because there are not enough tries being scored, which is turning the fans away.

“I don’t think you can isolate it and say it’s a northern hemisphere problem, it’s a problem in the game and if we don’t address it, then we are going to get very boring rugby matches.

“But in the games I’ve seen in this Six Nations, I haven’t seen teams wanting to move the ball because they know they can’t. It’s about planning the right kick next to win the game.”

These were the thoughts of New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen a few weeks back and I think it’s safe to say Northern hemisphere rugby is anything but boring after 221 points and 27 tries were scored in three titan clashes across Europe.

Everyone is now just getting their breath back, whilst those supporting Ireland will be recovering for a month after week of drinking as they won the six nations trophy in the same week as St Patricks Day.

Now it’s time to reflect  on what will be seen as missed chances as England had a handful against Scotland, but failed to capitalise and they also had a chance to score a late try against Ireland if only Billy Twelvetrees' pass to Jack Nowell wasn’t forward.

However, England’s performance against France was one of the greatest spectacles I’ve seen in a long time as Stuart Lancaster’s men played with no fear and this should put us in good stead for the World Cup.

Also, the fact we’ve beaten all the home nations in the last two years at Twickenham should turn the home of rugby into a fortress of rugby and if you look at the team as a whole I think we should be confident in reaching the semi finals of the World Cup.

With players like Dave Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Ben Morgan, Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt, Manu Tuilagi and Ben Foden still on their way to returning, the Southern hemisphere big boys should be worried by our strength in depth.

It’s not just them - players across the Aviva Premiership have staked a claim to be in the squad and a good handful are from Exeter with Dave Ewels, Thomas Waldrom, Henry Slade and Sam Hill. Plus, you have Elliot Daly and Christian Wade from Wasps and if only Nathan Hughes was eligible he would have been our starting No.8.

I know everyone will make a case for their player(s) for their respective club, but it shows how good we can and should be in six months time when England kick off against Fiji.

If we fast forward six months quickly and have a think of who would be starting in the opening match I think we should keep faith with the team, which thumbed France on Saturday, and then look to make changes for the Wales and Australia games.

One player who I think should be leading the attack is George Ford. He has really come of age in this tournament and he makes the team attack and much like Danny Cipirani he has the x factor and I think teams in our pool will be watching tapes of how to cancel him out.

If that happens then Owen Farrell is a good replacement and despite not offering much in attack, he’s a consistent kicker and has a good defence.

Then the attack can speak for itself with three or four more changes, with one position that is still open being inside centre. Even though I rate Luther Burrell highly and he does an excellent job and has built a great partnership with Jonathan Joseph, the Northampton man made some mistakes in key areas in this Six Nations.

Plus, it also comes down to what sort of 12 you want either the running hard, breaking gainline type or what Sir Clive Woodward has been asking for with a skilful, footballing type player so I think there’ll be a four way between Burrell, Barritt, Tuilagi and Slade.

There’s a chance we will see them all play too, as we host France and Ireland whilst also travelling to Paris and there might be a chance to see a certain Steffon Armitage playing in an England shirt in the French capital.

Whatever happens from now till 18th September there’s a lot of Aviva Premiership and Champions/Challenge Cup matches to figure out who will start against Fiji.

There’s my starting 15 v Fiji:
1. Alex Corbisiero

2. Dylan Hartley

3. Dan Cole

4. Joe Launchbury

5. Courtney Lawes

6. Tom Wood

7. Chris Robshaw (C)

8. Ben Morgan

9. Joe Simpson

10. George Ford

11. Jack Nowell

12. Luther Burrell/Manu Tuilagi

13. Jonathan Joseph

14. Anthony Watson

15. Mike Brown

Replacements

16. Tom Youngs

17. Joe Marler

18. Kieran Brookes

19. Dave Attwood

20. Steffon Armitage

21. Ben Youngs

22. Henry Slade

23. Christian Wade

Do you agree? Let me know your starting 15.