The battle for the hard yards, those precious portions of turf either side of the gainline, finished conclusively in England’s favour in Dublin last weekend and similar ball-carrying dominance would set them well on the way to victory over France at Twickenham on Sunday. This was a particularly welcome development after the struggles of Eddie Jones’s side last year. The absence of Billy Vunipola throughout the Six Nations last season exposed England’s overreliance on their No 8 for making those all-important indentations in the opposing defensive line. Vunipola is back in harness, albeit still feeling his way back towards his marauding best. The difference is that England’s pack is equipped with so many alternatives to launch their side over the gainline, making life so much…

Source: The Times February 08, 2019 17:03 UTC