England aims to eliminate its rough edges on Sunday, avoiding that Italy separates them from par.
Having chosen to leave the blitz after the autumn nations series, the national team has been looking to bed in a new more refined defensive system under Joe El-Abd.
Three games in these six nations have been an area of promising progress, but there have also been some technical problems. In summary; England has been formidable in the middle and fragile further.
The Steve Borthwick team has made 40 dominant tacle in the first three rounds of the championship, as a demonstration of its blunt credentials. In comparison, France has managed 17 and Ireland 21. Irish (titles and favorites) are recognized for their efficiency, but England has a fractionally higher combustion rate (85 percent compared to 84 percent) and has also granted less penalties.
The attitude and collective spirit have been evident in the way in which Borthwick's men have encountered so well, despite the forced absence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who is a teacher of that 'art' at an early age.
In the game against France, the despair of the hosts was exemplified by Ollie Sleightholme chasing Louis Bielle-Barrey and forcing him to pass, which led to a Mauvaka Pedato coup. Such efforts were worth it, since England snatched a 26-25 victory.
England's defense has proven to be more formidable in the middle after three games of the six nations.
The new defense coach of England, Joe El-ABD, has been trying to have a refined system
England was fiercely assertive when Scotland was direct in his clash clash
In the Cup of Calcutta, a fortnight later, Maro Itoje and his team admitted three attempts, but again they were fiercely assertive when Scotland was direct.
The action of the English rear was summarized just before the time when Finn Russell broke through a gap at five meters from the starting line, but 11 phases later the visitors had been beaten almost 20 meters and Itoje won a turnover to allow the hosts to clear the danger.
However, there were obvious failures in the same game. Scotland attacked Sleightholme in the air and Marcus Smith on the ground, with the giant Duhan Van der Merwe running on the Harlequins player parked in full back, in what was a mismatch of brutal size.
While Smith's struggles will come around the world will have contributed to their degradation to the bench for the clash with the Azzurri, the other Smith, end, made 16 tacle and once again showed his taste for physical confrontation.
The narrow victories in their last two games have highlighted England's will to maintain the line and fight each other, but also revealed the need to reinforce the defense in the 'edge', where the opponents have exposed them. It was not only against Scotland, since James Lowe established Ireland's first attempt against England in Dublin in the first round when flying through Alex Mitchell.
Borthwick recognizes that there is a solid base in its place, but that progress must be made. “The outstanding absolute part of the defense would be the difficult thing to run for each other and how fast they have returned when they have broken,” said the chief coach. 'The team has shown resistance and strength that has been outstanding.
'Second, competition in the breakdown of the opposition: it has not been a strength of England in recent times, but it has really become a strength during this campaign. The two teams that have won the majority of ball losses in the breakdown of the opposition are England and Italy, so it has been a real asset.
'Our defense in the middle has really been strong. Clearly, there have been times when people have succeeded and have made meters and breaks at the edges. That has been reduced to address the completion or we have been a bit narrow. As we grow as a team, I would expect us to address that and we are pointing out to make that better this weekend. '
The Maro Itjeje side has been progressing to the defensive, but there are still problems for England
Duhan van der Merwe from Scotland ran over Marcus Smith at full speed in a size mismatch
James Lowe established Ireland's first attempt against England last month by passing Alex Mitchell
Marcus Smith's defensive difficulties have been a factor in the decision to replace it on the full back with Elliot Daly, who is expected to be resolved and positionally cunning when the opposition is exerting pressure. Borthwick also brought Fraser Dingwall in the midfield instead of Henry Slade, who had been a key figure in the implementation of the Blitz system.
When asked if he expects the changes to improve England when they don't have the ball, as well as when they do, Borthwick said: 'It is an area in which we must be better. You saw how Scotland moved the ball and exposed that space very, very good.
'I am sure that Italy has analyzed that and will try to go there (width to the' edge '). As always, analyze something and see an opportunity, but you would also expect that a team has worked on it and we have been working on it. ''
The tribute of the chief coach to the breeds of breakdown of his team in these six nations is favorably reflected in several men, especially Tom Curry. The sales flank has been magnificent, particularly against Ireland and France, before its twin Ben robbed the show as an impact replacement in the Calcuta Cup match.
When asked about England's defensive effort, Tom spoke about the attitude they contribute now. “In this team, I feel that we have properly defended each other,” he said. 'It feels as if we had worked very hard with each other.
'That does not mean that everything has come out well. We have definitely been too tight (narrow) sometimes. Scotland reached the limit many times.
'In the same breath, knowing that they are going to be hit by each other cannot be falsified or replicated. We have definitely taken a step in that regard, in terms of building a base and a mentality. Now there is the feeling of boarding the fingers of the feet instead of the heels. Tactically, we need to improve a bit. And we can still go tougher.
When asked if the next step in its development implies adjusting or refining the El-ABD system, Curry's more covered added: “It is a natural evolution, and I hate the word” evolution “, because it seems that we postpone it until next week.” Why not do it now? But there is a learning that has to happen, especially doing it together.
Tom Curry, on the right, has been key to the exploding exploits of England so far in the six nations
Curry believes that England has defended each other, but admits that work is needed in the 'edge'
'You cannot (quantify) the attempts that we would have previously given from the line and so-on breakdown. We have definitely saved some attempts in this way. After England endured to overcome the Scots, defeated visitors emphasized how the defense of their rivals had been so influential, especially when they dominated the first half.
“England defended itself very well,” said Chief coach Gregor Towsend. 'They are very good in their own 22.' Co-Capitán Rory Darge said: 'There were many opportunities that we did not take full advantage. Part of that is England defended well.
Even the uproar Van der Merwe, when he was appointed man of the party, paid tribute to the winners, adding: 'We had many opportunities in that first half and we did not take them all. Clean play on England's defense, in the first half they kept us out.
Against Italy, Borthwick will wait for Dingwall to be accompanied in the well between Smith and Ollie Lawrence, to form a powerful barrier against the dangerous central match of Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex.
He will also expect Daly to provide reliable support to the wings and chase any Italian who breaks the line that crosses heavy artillery.
What England will continue to bring is a mentality on to stop the opposition and not disappoint. That is galvanizing, as Ben Curry describes after the victory of Scotland.
Steve Borthwick has made changes in his side of England to help defensively against Italy
Fraser Dingwall, on the left, enters the center of the field, while Elliot Daly will provide support to wings
“My personal opinion about defense is that it has to mean more than address,” he said. 'You have to want to hit people. It is something unnatural to put your head in a dark place where it should not be. You have to have a deeper reason to do so, especially in defense.
'We want to try to address in two, so you require that you are on the same page as your classmates. You will not want to enter halfway because you know that your partner goes at 100 percent. It's like guilt. You know it's flying, so I'm not going to disappoint it.
It will be worth seeing the guilt trip of England. Part of his defense in recent weeks has been a show. They could have moved from the blitz, but what has emerged is still a brutal attack.