Blame the back-row
Mark Reason takes issue with England's back-row following their dour Six Nations draw with Scotland in The Sunday Telegraph.
"England will not have a prayer of winning next year’s World Cup until they sort out their back row. The three-quarters have taken a lot of stick this season, but how are Jonny and Co supposed to score tries when the grease monkeys who are meant to oil the machinery keep wanting to drive the car? "Scotland’s back row of Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown and John Barclay, the aptly named killer Bs, showed England how to play. They run off each other’s shoulders and have fantastic low body positions. It’s all for one and one for all. "In contrast England’s back row provides so little presence at the breakdown that you have to assume that they are playing to orders. Nick Easter, James Haskell and Joe Worsley all stood away from the contact area and let the front five get on with the dirty work."