We know England are a very efficient side with a direct approach and above all we are aware of the ferocity with which they play the game.
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France was leading 14-12 after scoring the first try through replacement prop Rabah Slimani.
The stuttering hosts made hard work of victory at Twickenham, eventually prevailing 19-16 thanks to a first worldwide try from replacement, former Junior Kiwis league player Ben Te’o 11 minutes from the end. “I take full responsibility for the performance”. They have really got their passion back for the game.
Maro Itoje, best known as a lock, makes his first test start in the back-row after blindside flanker and former England captain Chris Robshaw was ruled out of the entire Six Nations with a shoulder injury.
“The bench definitely made a difference”, Jones said. It was unusual. The first lineout looked like we had never practised lineouts.
“We weren’t our usual urgent selves and maybe I’ve got to look at the preparation I gave the team”. A bit of a surprise start on the wing for Daly who got the nod over Nowell and Yarde to replace the injured Watson which sees him second favourite in the first tryscorer market at 9/1. “I have got a lot of homework to do over the weekend”.
In 2015 Wales and Australia rampaged through Twickenham to knock England out of the World Cup they were hosting, but they have since amassed seven consecutive victories on home soil.
“I’ve been to the Principality Stadium and it’s just another ground”.
“This time past year I said that the long-term strategy for England is to develop a side who can be the most dominant team in world rugby”, Jones said while previewing the tournament.
Jones was nonplussed about their record streak.
Slow starters – The key message from Eddie Jones this week was the importance of a good start, getting off the mark quickly and making an impression as they begin their Grand Slam defence.
STARSPORT count down the top 10 appearance makers in Six Nations history ahead of the 2016 edition of the tournament.
“I think it’s part of the job”, Twelvetrees added when asked if players might view this year’s Six Nations as essentially an audition for that famous red shirt.
Guy Noves struggled to rebuild the smouldering mess that was the national squad in the wake of Philippe Saint-Andre’s exit, but in November France looked threatening against both New Zealand and Australia, narrowly losing out in both games.
The last time the Scots opened a Six Nations campaign with a win was 2006 (when they beat France) but they’ll fancy their chances of ending that appalling record against an Ireland side missing Jonathan Sexton. The team features eight changes from the side which won in France back in March.
“It lacks rigour, it lacks maturity”, explained Noves.
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“There is huge expectation on our team but nobody puts us under more pressure than ourselves as individuals and a team”, he added.
