Six Nations 2024 | REVIEW | England and Scotland

Following the conclusion of the 2024 men’s Six Nations, what do the report cards say for Steve Borthwick’s England and Gregor Townsend’s Scotland?
England finished 3rd and are a team that feel like they’re on the up, whilst Scotland have plenty of questions following just two wins.

[@ricd4557]

As an England fan that is the best display we have had in 4 years. Several new caps, plus several players likely to push for places before the WC. Finally the U20 may throw a couple of youngsters in the frame as well. Plenty of work ahead, but heading in the right direction.

[@MACCA0405]

I think the quality of the opposition makes this summer tour very difficult. I could be very wrong but Japan are maybe the only victory. Hard to experiment against NZ and SA. Thought England were great against Ireland. Also against France. But France were missing Du Pont, their two best 10’s and Dante. Also playing their Ramos at 10. And still won. My worry for England is that their front row could be taken apart this summer.

[@aidanmasterson50]

Ben Earl is a genuine contender for player of the championship. Top on metres made and carry stats which are the obvious to the eye at game time. Not sure that he does as much of the grunt work that is vital to success, but not so flashy, like Van der Flier or Dorris. Jack Willis, if he could play for England does that spades. I was very impressed with Chesum at 6 against Ireland. Played like a natural 6 despite his 2nd row frame.

[@bescotrahim4271]

Love you channel Alfie. I have been following Scotland for years. Whilst disappointing, I am a more on the half full side of things. There are a couple of points I want you to make. The mental side , I agree with you on the video and has caused us dearly in the France , Italy and Wales game. They switch off after about 50 mins. I think is due to a mixture of lack of quality from the bench and especially someone like Zander Fagerson who knows he has to go for 80 mins so probably conserving energy whilst simultaneously dealing with a fresh opponent. Also being in tight game is rare for the Scottish guys as Edinburgh/Glasgow have not been at the sharp end of year end-competition for a while(As shown by Glasgow against Toulon last year where they fluffed their lines). The switch off can be fixed, the lack of bench is a harder one, which is being worked on. In terms of what is coming through, I am bit more encouraged in the longer term than some pundits. Scotland like other unions had cash issues after COVID. They made a choice to defund to men’s youth program and prioritise the Pro teams and women’s rugby. I think the results have been telling. Both the pro teams and the women teams have progressed whilst the U20s have regressed and GT just has not had the players to provide competition and he has had to try things, Kinghorn to fly half etc. Fortunately the funding is now going in and there are a few green shoots, watch out for Freddy Douglas, Euan McVie and Ollie Blyth-Laverty! The focus at that level has been speed and skill over physicality (this is something GT did bring in and the balance was wrong). That is why players like Stafford McDowell and Harry Paterson have taken longer to develop but hopefully come in and develop the team. So whilst disappointed, I can’t see progress across the poor. Lastly the most disappointing result was Italy, but I thought they were brilliant!

[@colindouglas7769]

As a Scotland fan who went to his first rugby international in 1974 when I was in 3rd Year at Perth Academy, I think it's clear that Scottish rugby team is often at a huge disadvantage because rugby is very much a minority sport in Scotland. Football is by far the main spectator sport here. The real heartland of rugby union has traditionally been based in the Borders and in the private independent schools in Edinburgh and to a lesser extent in Glasgow and outside of the two professional teams of Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, for the clubs such as Gala, Hawick, Melrose and Selkirk (to name four), the ethos has remained stubbornly thirled to the amateur code. The Scottish Rugby Union don't seem interested in expanding the number of professional clubs in Scotland, and the traditional rugby clubs don't seem to have any ambition of becoming professional clubs. Given that Toonie has a very limited pool to pick from, Scotland is really punching well above their weight by adding players born outside Scotland, but who qualify to represent Scotland either because they have Scottish ancestry or through having satisfied the required number of years playing in Scotland. I think the current crop, in spite of their worrying tendency to go off the boil in games, is probably the best squad of players we have had, certainly since 1999, the last time we won a Championship outright (I believe). The advent of professionalism was a real hurdle for us to be able to compete with the likes of France and England. Our current run of four back-to-back wins over England is the best run I have seen in my lifetime and illustrates why I say that this current Scotland squad is the best and most competitive one we've ever had and we won't be fearful going to Twickenham next year. But all in all, Scotland have to be disappointed with where they have finished this year in the Six Nations. When we've been on it, we've played some exciting rugby, scoring some fantastic tries, but we have also found consistency an issue, and that is what must worry Scotland fans like me for the future. Inevitably, these players are not going to be around for ever and looking at the woeful performances of the Scotland U-20s this year, you have to wonder about the quality coming through. The average age of the current squad is 28. A fair number of them are in their early 30s now. Finn Russell, for example is 31. Harry Paterson is the current youngest at 22. I think maybe we've seen the last of WP Nel now at 37 years old and maybe Richie Gray at 34 may not have more than a couple of years left. For England fans, I think we can all agree that there are green shoots of a much better, far more dangerous England team just emerging. When Borthwick and his coaches finally remove the shackles and decide to allow the players to play a more expansive brand of rugby, there will be better times ahead for England fans to enjoy. England have been stunted and uninspiring to watch with that rigid territorial kicking game plan they have followed in recent years. You have the quality of player in your team to be different, be more exciting to watch, and even as a Scotland fan, I have felt it was a shame to see good players talents being wasted by the limited approach you have taken since the 2019 RWC. You opened your analysis by reminding us that England and Scotland have switched places in the table, but of course, if Skinner's last minute try against France had been awarded (as it should have been), we would have finished with three wins and two losses like you have. Just saying ...

[@DG-iu8ck]

One thing that has caused a problem for Scotland i think is always looking for foreign players but they do that but seems to be neglecting home grown talent just look at there under 20s they were getting a hammering all the time I know other teams look for foreign born players aswel but they don't neglect home grown talent i think Scotland reliy on foreign players a bit to much example would Scotland have been able beat England without van as it was van who scored 3 tries would Scotland have been able to do the same if van got injured and couldn't play in that game understand my point i just think a big problem for Scotland is they seem to neglecting home grown talent

[@colindouglas7769]

@DG-lu8ck: You've made a reasonable point about Scotland relying on imported players, but you maybe don't realise that rugby union is no more than a minority spectator sport in Scotland. As I have stated in my own post on this thread, the mass spectator sport in Scotland is football. Rugby in Scotland is largely the preserve of the relatively small fee-paying independent sector schools whereas the State schools are largely football orientated. There are only two professional rugby clubs in Scotland (Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors); the rest of the rugby clubs such as Gala, Hawick, Melrose and Selkirk (to name just four) are all still rigidly amateur and show no ambition of turning professional and with the Scottish Rugby Union equally showing real no interest in expanding the number of professional clubs, it is little wonder why Gregor Townsend has to look outside of Scotland to build a squad that can compete with the likes of yourselves and France. It's unfortunate and to be regretted, this is true, but that's the way it is for now. It's incumbent on the SRU blazer brigade to look at ways of building a more home-grown approach, but I don't think they are exactly rolling in the required funds to invest in such a project at the moment. They seem far more interested in tugging their forelocks to the upper crust and aristocracy than actually doing their jobs and advancing the game.

[@Daniboi971]

After the Scotland game, apparently, they focused on attack. And what do you know?…beat Ireland and run France close away from home

[@ericdavison6186]

I cant focus on all the positional selections ,most people have favourites) Its form and the ability to function in SBs tactical approach. Since the french drubbing last year, england are competing to 80 mins with some great benches. He has let his specialist coaches do their thing this 6 nations, maybe not so much in the RWC? poortfliet is to come back,,our lads abroad too hopefully when their wallets are full)

[@Bpt8825]

Hartley should come in at 12. Watched him come on during the England Saxon game and he is big and looks to potentially be a special talent. A Freddie Steward experiment could be interesting . Seb Atkinson, Dan Kelly and Max Ojomoh could be other options

[@retlwiz]

I agree England look like they have room to make progress in their defence especially, and with the likes of Feyi-Wabiso and Cunningham-South, Arundell etc their attack will also develop. I really hope Care is no longer used and they take Spencer to NZ. Also to me Daly is a bit of a weak link - he brings in other players in but he isn’t great in defence or attack anymore. Injuries and availability will be the biggest factors, as with most teams. As for Scotland, my view is they actually won three, which is pretty good. I also think they are maxed out in their potential and got beaten by luck or teams who played better. I suspect Ireland have hit their ceiling too - I include seeing Leinster getting beaten twice in a row by La Rochelle. I suspect other teams are learning how to counter their style and they won’t have the capacity to change their style. That’s just sport.

[@stevewturnbull]

Spot on analysis. If England can have the balls to take risks from their 22 and exploit broken play wherever on the field like France (and the southern hemisphere sides) they have the potential to beat anyone going forward. It was a hugely encouraging performance to add to the one against Ireland. Such a lift to see them playing fluent, attacking rugby again with several tries from the backs. Still a question mark over Slade for me. He has silky skills but looks a liability in defence and gets turned over too easily. Not sure who would replace him though. Likewise Smith - great in attack as a full back, suspect in defence/under the high ball, certainly compared to Steward. But he brings huge passion and commitment too and has to be a long-term bet to replace Ford at 10. I think the main thing is the monkey is off Borthwick's back now and the team have got their mojo back.

[@martindavey5477]

England need to decide who is going to play 7 (or 8 if Earl is 7). There are plenty of good options with various levels of experience, but it requires one or two of those to step up to being very good and complement Chessum & Earl.

[@Daniboi971]

Underhill is good for the blitz defence. He is a missile. But otherwise I agree. Tom curry is great if fit

[@jmurphy9657]

Not a bad dilemma. It seems that Chessum is the preferred pick at 6 with CCS or even Ted Hill there as backup. Then take your pick two of Earl, Curry or Underhill for the other two backrow slots with the third for the bench?

[@feliscorax]

With regard to the tries scored against England from turnovers, this speaks to a lack of ball security at the rucks as well as basic errors in terms of accuracy, each of which should improve with more game time under these new systems being introduced by SB and coy. A more balanced and mobile backrow, something like 6. Underhill 8. Earl 7. Curry, should also help. On paper, it might look a bit lightweight, but it is also one that is very skilful and looks to be a highly mobile unit that’s able to chop tackle and jackal as well as offering considerable attacking threats in the loose. It’s basically a backrow that’s based on the NZ model rather than the traditional England power game. That they are each potential target men at the lineout also helps with ball retention. Personally, I think the 12. Lawrence 13. Slade partnership looks settled and see no value in changing it. IC might not be Lawrence’s preferred position, but if you move him to OC, that means losing Slade’s ballhandling skills and his ability to play others into gaps. I’m not sure that’s something England should be trading unless the new IC and Lawrence at 13 partnership is able to not only replicate - but also exceed - the Lawrence-Slade duo as it is. They look to have gelled nicely and I’m not sure England would look as good in the midfield if SB were to suddenly go and change it. Slade is also brilliant at marshalling the defence in the wider channels and I think we’d miss his on-field presence. Stick with it for now unless someone obviously better comes along to claim the 12 shirt. Other things worth mentioning: 1. The front-row is past its prime, especially with regard to the old war horses (Cole and Marler), so young blood will be needed moving forward. George is doing a great job as captain and hooker and Theo Dan looks an able lieutenant. Genge appears to have learnt a technical trick or two, which is great, because he still has one more RWC cycle left in him but has been something of a penalty liability at scrum time in the past. Genge’s improvement in terms of his scrummaging has been the best bit of news from this 6N as it adds to his obvious prowess in the loose thereby making England stronger overall. Both he and George as well as TD offer a platform from which to build a front-row unit that’s capable of becoming world-beaters but a proper unit to replace Cole anchoring the scrum is going to be needed. 2. Locks: All-sorted. Itoje and Martin are a fantastic duo and a large part of England’s improvement in the scrum can be said to be derived from having the proper heft locking it. They dovetail nicely with their respective skillsets with the young Leicester man adding some much-needed mongrel (Itoje is a menace but somehow too much of a nice guy to play the rôle of on-field enforcer). 3. Back three: Lacked pace and power in the absence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who has all-but-won the shirt for keeps on just two outings in it, but Daly was still the right selection to cover the wing given his experience. At some point, however, either Henry Arundell or Adam Radwan will have to be brought into the team to complement him on the other wing. I think it depends largely on the weather which back three unit gets selected, but I would like to see something along the lines of 11. Arundell or Radwan 15. Furbank 14. Feyi-Waboso in the dry and/or 11. Freeman 15. Steward 14. Feyi-Waboso or Roebuck in the wet - or simply as and when the players are available in whichever combination. Pace is the most difficult thing to defend and England simply need more of it. There’s also Marcus Smith to cover at fullback so some combination in the shape of 11. Arundell or Radwan 15. Smith 14. Feyi-Waboso or Roebuck is also possible if SB thinks England needs to be able to ask a different set of questions under other circumstances. 4. Smith or Ford: I like having Smith as the bench option for now covering 10 and 15. His time will come, but for now, SB ought to let him keep learning from Ford, whom he obviously trusts to guide his teams from their time together at Leicester. Game management is Smith’s main weakness at the moment, and he isn’t yet as good as Ford at tactical kicking, either, but he’s clearly a test match animal and the next big thing for England. He could start as per 3. above, which is something akin to the way New Zealand eased Dan Carter into taking over from Carlos Spencer at flyhalf many moons ago. For me, though, he’s a great option to have on the bench as he covers both 10 and 15 and gives England another way to play later in the game when the space has started opening up. Based on form, George Ford is currently too good to drop and has been at the heart of everything good England has managed to do in these later rounds of the 6N. Good to have the succession plan in place already, though. ***** Not sure what your thoughts (or Tim’s over at Eggchasers) are on the above, but as I am bed-ridden with what appears to be Covid, I thought I’d offer my tuppence worth. Edit: Needless to say, good video as always.

[@MACCA0405]

Obviously you are very bored.

[@feliscorax]

@@MACCA0405 I’m sick in bed with Covid and it sucks monkey nuts.

[@markpiotrowski6174]

I'd like to throw in I don't necessarily think Genge has made massive improvements, I think having a scrummaging 2nd row like Martin has made a huge impact on the scrums

[@feliscorax]

@@markpiotrowski6174 I think it's a bit of both, but there's no doubt having that extra heft locking the scrum helps to stabilise the front row. What I saw of Genge with his body position -- for example, getting low to force his French opposite into playing in a disadvantageous position leading him to hinge at the hips, etc. -- is an indication that he has learnt a new trick or two. You're right, though, that he wouldn't be able to do this without the extra support and power coming through courtesy of Itoje and Martin.

[@melishek0001]

Scotland were 13 points from a grand slam. So maybe reading too much into it.

[@Dishfire101]

Let's be honest England should be beating everyone in the world, they have the biggest budget, and the biggest playing pool (450k registered players ++ vs Scotland which has close to 45k registered players) England has the biggest league, the biggest stadium's England should be dominating everyone clearly!!!

[@davidwakefield4461]

Have said it for years, Steward was badly blunting our game. We look so much better without him in both attacks and defence. He just doesn't have the pace or skills for top level rugby. Great in the air, painfully slow, cant pass, no vision in his kicking, refuses to join the line to create overlaps or decoy runners and is completely drained of confidence now in one on one tackling.