Mixed results for new rules and England elite

• Published in: Daily telegraph (London, England : 1969)
• Main Author: BY BRIAN MOORE ON MONDAY
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) Daily Telegraph 08.01.2007
• Subjects: Farrell, Andy
• ISSN: 0307-1235

So complete was Gloucester's dominance of the first half that they should have been, metaphorically, driving back down the M5 at half-time. Their middle three backs, led by a maturing Ryan Lamb at fly-half, shredded the Sale backs almost at will in the first half. You're lucky to see a couple of clean breaks in most Premiership games but Gloucester carved out at least five in the first 40 minutes. Of the full England squad players on display, Mike Tindall showed what he has always shown - power and directness, but little subtlety; still, he was safe in possession, which England's backs were not last season. In the opposing back line Jason Robinson looked strangely out of sorts, or maybe not. The view of two Sale watchers, whose views I respect, was that this ineffectuality has been season-long and that, like many World Cup winners, his form has never recovered. So for those who hail his return as a talismanic sign, you may be following a false prophet. Up front, the recovery of Phil Vickery and his assumption of the captaincy gives England the benefit of his winning experience and a player who is unlikely to be considered for substitution. It is behind Vickery, in the second row, that England look light. Danny Grewcock aside, the other locks may fashion line-out ball but none is a noted scrummager or ball-carrier; none noted for his abrasiveness under pressure. England may get away with this in some games, but against the better Six Nations teams, whoever is chosen as Grewcock's partner has to quickly develop these qualities.