England rugby must try harder

The first two rounds of the Six Nations have exploded across the sporting landscape insuperlative – draining displays of skill and power. But still the England Rugby Union team is as baffling as Fermat’s Last Theorem. Why is it that a nation with resources other countries can only dream of performs so fitfully? How come England can produce a coach in charge of the world’s top nation – but that nation isn’t England?

The England result against Italy looked good on paper, especially when compared with Italy’s narrow defeat by France, but closer analysis isn’t so encouraging. Especially worrying are the 40 tackles missed by England, a detail that if not improved upon will almost certainly result in crushing defeats by Ireland and France.

The Marcus Smith-Owen Farrell double act is working as well as a Liz Truss Budget and should be discontinued.