England to run Azzuri
7 Feb 2008
Brian Ashton confirms England won’t revert to conservative tactics after their shock loss to Wales last week.
Italy showed plenty of spirit against Ireland on Saturday but are still unlikely to challenge for the Six Nations title. However, their status does not mean England can play the percentages in order to get back to their winning ways.
“It would be very easy to go into a tight mentality, saying we can’t afford to lose or not do this or that,” Ashton said. “This team is going out on Sunday to play some rugby, we don’t want to end up playing the game we played against Italy last year in a 15-metre channel.”
Ashton stressed the need to progress. England possess a powerful pack but the head coach is determined to utilise the potent outside backs to better effect.
“We’ve also emphasised the long-term view is that we need to move our game forwards. We can’t go backwards mentally to play a certain way just to eke out a win.
“Having said that, if we get in that situation [having a good lead] I think we’ve got a pretty shrewd idea of what we will do.”
17 Comments
7 Feb 2008, 10:09 am
A Pom team with JW at 10 that plays running rugby? Yeah right!
7 Feb 2008, 10:54 am
Brian Ashton has been pressing this “attacking” game plan of his since he took over the poms.
We are still yet to see it.
7 Feb 2008, 11:04 am
ag puleeze; poms – running rugby: like military intelligence, a total and utter paradox
c’mon Italy
7 Feb 2008, 11:04 am
If attacking rugby is kicking for touch,then we have seen Englands attack already….boring.yawn
7 Feb 2008, 11:17 am
Talking about boring yawns, where is Big Hit.
Deep throating Mike Catt no doubt.
7 Feb 2008, 11:19 am
Would give me great pleasure if the Italians manage to upset the Poms.
7 Feb 2008, 12:34 pm
They came close to upsetting the Irish.
7 Feb 2008, 12:55 pm
5
You guys might do that with your Adidas ABs but we in England don’t indulge in such practices.
6.
lol, no chance.
7 Feb 2008, 13:00 pm
Biggles,
Wipe your chin. One Swallow does not make a summer.
7 Feb 2008, 13:02 pm
Ashton is trying to play a different way to the World Cup team. It might work and it might not.
If one swallow doesn’t make a summer you guys have been stuck in a perpetual winter since 1987
7 Feb 2008, 13:25 pm
Bg Hit, he hasn’t chosen a team that can play a more open game.
7 Feb 2008, 13:47 pm
Go Italy go!!! Sorry Big Hit nothing personal only that I am Italo-South AFrican!
7 Feb 2008, 13:57 pm
11
Why? because Wilkinson is at 10? He seemed to manage all right in 2001 when England smashed all try-scoring records in the 6n. Its fallacy that Wilkinson can’t play a running game.
12
Its ok girlshark.
Are you one of those Sharky cheerleaders?
7 Feb 2008, 14:21 pm
2001 is 7 years ago, in all that time JW has only kicked. Lets chat after the Saturday game.
7 Feb 2008, 14:43 pm
Hi Big Hit, if you mean sitting in the stadium and shouting my lungs out for the Sharks, then yes, but unfortunately not one of those Sharkettes! Bismarck would distract me too much!
7 Feb 2008, 17:23 pm
Way to give your gameplan away Brian.
More excellent decision making then…
8 Feb 2008, 12:03 pm
After there shock loss to Wales?
It was always on the cards,England are average at best and rely on luck to get them through
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