Six Nations 2011: England still a cut above

Following a tournament which ended in yet another England win,John Birchreflects on the lessons learned from this year's women's rugby Six Nations. England proved themselves to be the cream of the crop once again, taking home the Grand Slam having hardly been tested this year, while France have proved that they have the goods to be a threat once again in the coming years.

ENGLAND

The most obvious lesson from the 2011 Womens Six Nations is that England are just so far ahead of everyone else that at times it is embarrassing. It simply cannot be good for anyone, including England, for the competition to remain so one-sided as things stand can anyone seriously suggest that England will not make it seven in a row in 2012?

Their dominance is based around an awesome set of forwards that no-one else seems to be able to compete with. Not only are they stronger and more powerful than any other pack, but they are also as fast and as mobile as most other teams backs. But that is only the half of it. Perhaps even more significant is England's levels of fitness. They simply never stop, never take their foot off the pedal, never take a breather, never take their foot off the oppositions jugular. In the majority of their games this season they scored more points in the second half than first - the exceptions were Wales (which was played in the teeth of a howling gale), and Italy (where they still scored five second-half tries).

In addition - even when forced to defend - there is no other kicker more accurate a reliable than Katy McLean when it comes to relieving pressure.

But there are still some issues with the backline problems that were evident in the World Cup and remain. Quite simply they make way too many needless errors, even when not really under pressure. And they seem well aware of this it appears to affect their confidence because it seems apparent that, given a choice between a sweeping back move or relying on the forwards to smash their way through, its the forward option they go for practically every time.

The trouble is that England are so dominant that this hardly matters - if you are posting 89 points on the opposition the odd dropped pass with the try-line at your mercy, or possession needlessly thrown away, is quickly forgotten. But there will be occasions when it will matter. Probably once every four years - something they need to eradicate.

FRANCE

The French have backs who are, with ball in hand, wonderful to watch at times magical (compare and contrast England and France against Scotland). As at the World Cup this is where their strength lies, because if a team lets them run at them they risk being taken apart.

However, at the World Cup their pack were pretty poor, clearly second best to pretty much everyone they played. And it is here that France have improved enormously since August. An almost complete clearout of everyone from one to five may have been a risk, but it has paid off massively. They now not only have the second best pack in the Six Nations, but also probably the youngest.

In addition the team has developed a most un-French trait consistency. Apart from against Italy (when several key players were rested) they have looked good against everyone, and at both home and away. If this team stays together by 2013 or 2014 they really will be pushing England all the way.

But surely, in all of France, somewhere there must be a woman who can kick? At times it was embarrassing I have seen club U18 teams do better. Some attempted conversions failed to even reach the try-line bouncing along the ground, and they even failed to convert a penalty try against Wales. Kicking duties were shared between at least three players, none of whom were anything like reliable. Throwing away points from conversions and penalties will cost them, while the inability to have anyone who could clear their lines against England resulted in a second half where they were under almost constant, unrelieved, pressure.

ITALY

Italys performances this season have been really impressive. Two wins from five games is their best ever Six Nations finish and its clear that they have used the extra year of rebuilding well, almost certainly helped by the confidence of reaching the 2010 FIRA final. In short, they have learnt how to win.

They have also been well prepared. Di Giandomenico targeted Wales and Scotland at the start of the campaign and they won both games, while the enthusiasm of the clubs hosting their home games puts everyone else in Europe to shame!

But while the policy of targeting certain games paid off, are they as a result letting themselves down against other opposition? It seems very odd that they could run everyone so close, except England. Even given how much stronger England are, the size of their defeat was disproportionally large. Are they so overawed by Red Rose that they fail to do themselves justice? Perhaps a little more belief and ambition might see Italy competing for something other than the Wooden Spoon in the future.

SCOTLAND

While Scotland do arguably have a bigger rebuilding job than anyone else, the margin of defeats this season can only be described as huge. Including the warm-up in Spain, Scotland have lost five out of their six games in 2011by record-breaking margins. So massive have some of these defeats been that is difficult to see what they could possibly have gained by the experience, other than maybe a habit of losing. On the positive front they have unearthed the biggest (if not perhaps the most accurate or tactical) kicker in the tournament with Caroline Collie, but other than that their new players have had so little ball to play with its hard to come to any conclusions about them at all.

Scotlands young team have to have a chance to play games where they are not forced to defend for 80 minutes, and the solution must be to play more games against other European opposition. And here the simplest solution would be to learn from Italy - and, to an extent, France - both of whom have used the annual FIRA European Trophy tournaments to give young players a taste of glory. While the development of a U20 team to go alongside the A team is a good move, friendly fixtures cannot compete with the experience of taking part in a competitive tournament.

IRELAND

Despite significant personnel changes since 2010, the onward growth of Irish rugby continues. Another third place was well deserved, and but for three points over two games it could have been even better than that. That Ireland can find so many exciting new players is remarkable, especially given their lack of any development level below the main national side though the number of players who have converted to rugby after successful careers in Gaelic games is significant, and perhaps often overlooked, factor (certainly Ireland have few problems finding players with good boots!).

However, that lack of a development level must, in the end, hold Ireland back. Unlike everyone else in the top four there is no A or U20 team for up-and-coming Irish players to gain experience before being thrown into the heat of the battle. In addition, there is no Nations Cup, or FIRA tournaments, or indeed any internationals at all outside the Six Nations. The Irish performances in recent years have been hugely impressive, but it is success based on frighteningly shallow foundations.

WALES

The revival of Welsh rugby this season was one of the most welcome and perhaps unexpected developments. From the wind-swept start against England to an impressive performance against France, it has been a good new beginning for the young Welsh team.

The only downsides were the loss to Italy and the surprise departure of their new coach a fortnight later, on the eve of their crucial game against Ireland. That they could win that game and then go on to perform so well against France was an impressive response to a sudden upheaval that might have sunk lesser sides.

But the Welsh have a depth of young players that no sides, other than France and England, can match. Their continued and long-standing investment in their age group teams teams that can hold their own against anyone else in the world is beginning to pay off at the top level. If only they can match their on-field potential with some off-field stability Wales could once again be competing to be one of the best sides in Europe.