Six Nations: Stuart Lancaster givesthumbs-up to brave recruits

STUART Lancaster has given his young England rugby side two crucial commodities before they take the field against Italy in the RBS Six Nations at the Stadio Olimpico today.

He has given them time and confidence. No changes to the side which narrowly beat Scotland last weekend in the scrappiest of matches despite surrendering swathes of territory and the thick end of the possession. No knee-jerk reaction to a 13-6 win which laid bare flaws aplenty but also revealed a courage in Lancaster’s raw recruits.

Instead, the England interim coach has stuck by the men who gave him his first win, seven on their debuts and two on their second caps, and the conviction they will gain from that is incalculable.

England were a long way from the finished article in Scotland. A side who looked what they were, a collection of individuals with little playing time together looking for a leader.

True, they deserve credit for clawing their way to victory, although that had much to do with the Scots’ continued inability to take points on offer. Still, the English defence was robust and organised and disciplined.

Against Italy, however, they will need to show more adventure, more firepower. They will need to show signs they are gelling into a unit.

Much of the burden will fall on stand-off Charlie Hodgson, who scored the lone try against the Scots when he charged down Dan Parks’ kick. Hodgson has recovered from a blow to the shoulder and again lines up with Saracens team-mates Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt outside him in midfield.

It is not the paciest of midfields, which is why England need to find a way of getting the ball more frequently to the back three of Chris Ashton, David Strettle and full-back Ben Foden.

All three have speed to burn and present England’s biggest threat to an Italian side who have made two changes to the team beaten 30-12 by France last week, handing starts to Aironi lock Marco Bortolami and Clermont Auvergne centre Gonzalo Canale.

In many ways, that scoreline was misleading. France finished ruthlessly to score four fine tries but Italy also demonstrated at the Stade de France they are no longer out of their comfort zone in this Six Nations. With captain and number eight Sergio Parisse putting in an inspired performance as their talisman, the composure of the Italian pack was formidable.

England will have to match their physicality. There is an organisation to Italy following the reign of Nick Mallett and under current coach Jacques Brunel, which suggests that, after 12 years in the Six Nations, they have finally arrived.

That could be bad news for England, who have never lost to the Italians in 17 matches but would do well to heed the warnings of 12 months ago. During the 2011 Six Nations, Italy played three home games, beating France 22-21 and losing narrowly 13-11 and 24-16 to Ireland and Wales respectively.

They will fancy their chances against an English side still without Toby Flood, Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood. The match is the first in the Six Nations to be played at the Stadio Olimpico, and in front of a capacity crowd of 72,000. It’s more than just a step up from the 32,000-seater Stadio Flaminio, where Italy normally play.

The Eternal City was being lashed with snow and sleet as England put together their final preparations away from the match venue yesterday, where the pitch remained covered.

The temperature is forecast to drop to minus three at game-time tomorrow but, if Italy bring anything to an RBS Six Nations match, it is fire and brimstone.

Lancaster needs more than the grit he saw against Scotland. He needs Northampton’s Phil Dowson to raise his game in direct conflict with Parisse.

England need to control the breakdown in tighter fashion and scrum-half Ben Youngs requires quicker ball. Last weekend, it was all about nursing the rookies through their first caps and laying a platform.

This week, captain Chris Robshaw needs experienced performers such as Dan Cole, Tom Palmer, Dylan Hartley and Hodgson to show more leadership.

Lancaster has demonstrated his loyalty. Old and young guns alike need to repay his faith.

But, even if they do, this match could be a tense affair right to the end.

Italy captain Parisse knows a win against England would send shockwaves through the sport.

“We’re confident for sure,” he said. “I think everyone thinks we can win against England, but it’s going to be very difficult to get an historic result. But me and the whole team want this result to repay our supporters and everyone there.”