Owen Farrell"s slither of hope

“We know they have an outstanding kicking game,” said Farrell’s half-back partner Lee Dickson.

“When we kick to them, it’s to compete, not to give them too much space. When they kick to us, it’s up to us to put the pressure on them just as much as the other way around. I don’t think they’ve had too much pressure put on most of the time.

“We know we can’t let our concentration slip for a moment. But I don’t see why that should be difficult. Playing for England is the pinnacle of your rugby career, so this should be the focus the whole time. But we know just what can happen. Against France there were 20 seconds of the first half left on the clock, France turned it over and the Kiwis scored just before half-time.

“You have to switch on, know where the clock is.”

England succeeded in these duties a year ago but even then – in a record victory – were thrown on the back foot by two All Blacks tries in three minutes early in the second, which virtually eradicated the 15-0 advantage they had built up.

“New Zealand have fantastic strike-runners, astute game-managers and decision-makers,” said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

“You know there will be times they are in the ascendancy. You can’t let yourselves panic under that pressure. They are hard to break down and have an exceptional kicking game.

“I’m not sure they kick the ball away exactly, because they tend to get it back again pretty quickly. But when they kick it’s on the front foot. It’s one part of their armoury, but there are plenty of other threats as well.”

England did what was necessary to beat Australia and Argentina by having one good half in each of those Tests. The least they require today is two good halves – and even that may not be enough.

“You are never going to get 100 per cent,” said Lancaster. “That’s where people struggle to understand the modern game. You are never going to get it all your own way. But we’ve had a high enough percentage to beat two good southern-hemisphere teams so far.

“To get the full 80-minute performance we have to get the players to understand in the heat of battle, in the flow of the game, what is working and what isn’t. When you have a young team, lads in single-figure caps, that’s part of their learning. But the good thing is that, while we are still learning, we are also still winning.”

England are nine from 10, New Zealand 12 from 12. Something has to give.

Article source: http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/23122.php

Owen Farrell"s slither of hope