Pig Headed, Pragmatic or Ponderous?

England and Eddie Jones came unstuck against Scotland, here is my take on why.

Scotland won the Calcutta cup on Saturday with a display of skill, ambition, heart and organisation. It was a performance to set this seasons 6 Nations up as one of the most compelling in years. It was also one that pushed Lions tour spots further under the spotlight, with several players re-enforcing their claims and a couple making a late dash for consideration.

But what happened to England? What happened to the pre-tournament favourites and world cup finalists as they lost at Twickenham to Scotland for the first time since 1983?

So, of course its a matter for subjective analysis and I am sure that Eddie Jones and the squad are doing just that this morning at St George's Park. But for me there several factors that have been brewing for some time and Saturdays result is a culmination of that.

Pragmatism has its place, of course it does. There hasn't been a World Cup winning tem with that side to their nature. But sometimes it can if dealt with badly drift into futile actions that are there for the sake of it. Eddie Jones has for some time extolled the virtues of 'the team that kicks the ball most usually wins the game', well that is the perfect case in point of pragmatism being taken too far.

Scotland have a much vaunted back 3; Stewart Hogg, Sean Maitland and Duhan van der Merwe include 2 British Lions already and one big lump that's likely to make this tour, when you ally that to Finn Russell sitting deep knowing that England are going to kick then you have a potent threat to run the ball back and recycle it.

In truth, Scotland should have won by more and as they build the confidence in their ability to compete at that level I believe that they will grow into a very good team.

However, England are utterly culpable and if we are completely honest Eddie Jones is responsible. England had 5 Saracens players that, other than a pre season hit out against Ealing Trailfinders ahead of the curtailed Championship season haven't played since early December. It doesn't matter how much you train nothing is going to replicate time in the saddle, feeling the force of collision and carrying the weight of expectation that matches provide.

Why is it so wrong to pick players in form if your go to guys aren't battle hardened, surely it can only be good for squad depth that there is competition for places! Eddie Jones backs players and that is good but had they been injured for that long he'd have had to look at alternatives. Sam Simmonds is pulling up trees for Exeter Chiefs, the leagues leading scorer by a long way and in such form that overlooking him in favour of an out of sorts Billy Vunipola is crazy. Even if Jones felt he wanted a like for like replacement Nathan Hughes has been sensational in the last few weeks getting Bristol front foot ball.

At half back Youngs and Ford have been playing in an underperforming side at Leicester and whilst Youngs is clearly embedded for now, mostly because he plays his best rugby for England, Ford is not assured of his place often stepping back with Owen Farrell moving to 10. If this is the case why, then are the form 10's being called up, Joe Simmonds and Marcus Smith are in sensational form and offer a blend of pragmatism and flair, allowing Farrell to play at 12. Ollie Lawrence, the Worcester centre, must have wondered why on earth he received his match fee, the poor guy must have felt completely redundant with what ball he had and was certainly usurped by his opposite number and international debutant Cameron Redpath.

This is not a piece just about selection however, its merely another facet in the strange performance that we witnessed on Saturday. England tried to win a game of rugby with some of the most adverse stats I have ever seen. Here are just a few

• Possession England 35% Scotland 65%
• Territory England 30% Scotland 70%
• Tackles England 161 Scotland 92
• Clean Breaks England 0 Scotland 11
• Penalties England 15 Scotland 6

Eddie Jones insisted it was his fault in his usual public facing display, one which some commentators think is a little disingenuous. However, this time it really is. He is selecting a third of his team with little to no games time in months, he selecting guys that are no where near the 'in form' player in their position in the country, playing a style that suited Scotland's threat and cost England a 38 year winning home record.

If it is possible this summer there is a Lions series, if some of the England players aren't careful then Eddie Jones' philosophy could well cost some his players their spot in the squad. Its a horrible phrase to use but if ever anything was going to 'lose the dressing room' it could be good players watching their Lions chance slip by for another 4 years.

I want Eddie to do well, he's a fine coach. I want England to do well, to play attacking rugby that uses the best of the talent available. I want to see players rewarded for consistent excellence instead of the closed shop it now feels like. Right now none of those things are happening and it is an absolute blessing that it is Italy who are next up for England, considering the short turn around because there is a lot to try to remedy in a week and one thing we know about Eddie Jones is he will do what he wants, no matter the clamour for change, even if it is to his and the teams detriment.