Start Te'o Against Italy And Utilise Daly From Full-Back

In n ideal world Eddie Jones would love to arrive at the 2019 World Cup in Japan with 38 players that he could rotate freely in an England team that retained its effectiveness, whatever the combinations. Part of that would be to retain the ruthless finishing this England team has shown late on to win its opening Six Nations games against France and Wales.

 

At the moment the impact of the finishers off the England bench is sweet. The late boost of energy was there again in the pressure which created Elliot Daly’s precision try four minutes from time against Wales, while Ben Te’o’s late charge gave them the verdict against France.

The signs that the English bench is becoming more influential were there last season, but this Six Nations has seen it develop further. However, all players still want to be in the starting 15 as opposed to on the bench, even though the idea of being an impact player is growing in importance.

It is an interesting thought that a decade from now we will probably be interviewing players who specialise in finishing, and are on for 10 minutes rather than 80. What does not change in the international game, whether you start or come off the bench, is that you still have to come together like quick-set cement because of the relatively limited preparation time.

A number of ideas have been mooted about changes in the England matchday 23 for the game against Italy at Twickenham next Sunday. Tinkering with a winning team is always a risk, but if you are going to do it, then Italy is the game in which to look at your options.

James Haskell is not exactly a new option in the back row, but he must be champing at the bit for a starting slot against Italy, and given the impression that he made when he came on against France and Wales he deserves it.

I’d stick with Jack Clifford at 7 and Nathan Hughes at 8, but bring Haskell in at blindside. That would mean moving Maro Itoje back to lock, where you could partner him with either Courtney Lawes or Joe Launchbury.