Another 2015?

Quite possible. I certainly wouldn't be surprised.

My main concern is how we cope when things are going wrong in the second half. We've struggled in some games in the first half, got coaching at half time and turned it around. The problem is when things go wrong in the second half and the coaches can't have the same influcence and unfortunately it seems that the players can't do it themselves. The games against Wales and Scotland are the prime examples. Against Scotland, we kept kicking the ball back to them, because that's how we scored tries against France. The team showed a complete inability to change the game plan until it was far too late and we ended up being lucky to snatch a draw.

If the players can learn to adapt during the game rather than the coaches telling them what to do then hopefully we can go far. It was telling that Daly defended the team during the 6 nations by saying that they had managed to adapt during games before, and he cited Italy and "ruckgate" as an example. The difference was, against Italy we turned it around at half time, when the coahces had their say.

There is a lot that is good about this England team but I still think they are a team who needs to be told how to play and to stick to that gameplan, not one who can think for themselves and adapt. Danny's apparent refusal to stick to a gameplan (if you believe some rumours) has seen him miss out on a place in the squad. I hope that other players sticking too rigidly to a plan won't cost them a chance at success

I've said on many occassions that when England do well it raises the bar for the other home nations.  They all do better. England have the wider pool of talent than almost all the competitors and so should be there or ther-abouts despite Eddie Jones.

Wasn't that also what we said about Martin Johnson?

As a player?
As a captain?
As a manager?

I've said on many occassions that when England do well it raises the bar for the other home nations.  They all do better. England have the wider pool of talent than almost all the competitors and so should be there or ther-abouts despite Eddie Jones.

Why is this TT? Why does it take England to do well?

It seems the players are perfectly capable of changing the game plan during the match but are scared to for fear of being dropped for not sticking to the plan. A good Coach and senior group of players would have practiced, trained and planned different approaches in advance so that they could easily switch gameplans.

Or you just need a Martin Johnson type Captain who will say, "never mind all that old rubbish, this is what we are going to do", once they get onto the pitch.