by 
Of all the fashionable words on which Steve Barthwick likes to look, the concept of cohesion is that which the head coach of England returns to more than any other. The idea of close connections and well -managed combinations was a theme of his mandate on and off the field, encouraging his team to build links far from the field while emphasizing the continuity of the selection on this subject.
The boss of England looks with envy a nation like Ireland, which can draw a large part of its 23 on one side in Leinster. “There is no doubt when you try to build a team, to establish relationships and the frequency that people play together is important,” Barthwick said after the defeat of the six -nations openings in Dublin. “You contrast to us with Ireland and how often they play together. With Leinster, you see the model with which they left, this consistency. It is certainly beneficial in the international environment to have players who have played together on several occasions. »»
It is such a appreciated advantage, to a certain extent, by the rest of the nations of the united rugby championship. Italy built in Benetton; Scotland increasingly a Glaswegian group; Wales a core of cardiff. In international rugby, the pre -Camp preparation time is tight – Barthwick and Eddie Jones before him slowed down the departures of England to six nations on the fact that they must bring together a wider team team clubs than some of their rivals. Eight Prime Minister teams were represented in the starting XV of Barthwick to play in Ireland.
There are several ways to alleviate these challenges. One is to trust the combinations, as Barthwick did with Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence in the centers. The other is to build around a spine from one side. The success of France, which is faced with similar problems in the gathering of a more widely drawn group, occurred in part due to the excellence of their Toulouse vertebrae, with Fabien Galkie installing a plan more and more of play which is closely like that used by Antoine Dupont and Co. at the level of the club.
It is a strategy that England has successfully used before. The winning team of the 2003 World Cup was assembled on power, prowess and Leicester principles, then dominant at the national level. The finalists of the Jones tournament in 2019, on the other hand, were largely built around the model and the mentality of the Saracens.
The problem for Barthwick is that the Prime Minister is not implemented for dynastic success. Perhaps more entertaining than ever, the tight salary ceiling of English top Flight and other factors ensure the competitive balance, creating a convincing product but more, perhaps, the kind of upper side which can be the foundation of A successful international team. The Saracens were the last – but only by folding and breaking the financial rules to maintain their predominance.
The concerns grew up in Leicester when Barthwick led them to a title of Premières there are a few seasons that a young group who had grown together should possibly be interrupted when everyone had come for the renewal of contracts and, rightly, ordered more. Market forces have in fact allowed Tigers to keep all Freddie Steward, Jack Van Poortvliet, George Martin, Ollie Chessum and others – but something must give. We think that the club rushes to find a new playmaker with Handdre Pollard, apparently bound for Japan; Hooker Julian Montoya also seems likely to leave.
However, some junctions in the M1, however, is a group in which Barthwick is increasingly a huge faith. Even with George Furbank injured, four of the Backline runners in England in victory over France call Northampton their house. The center of the saints Fraser Dingwall could be the next man if the injuries were Slade or Lawrence; George Hendy, a game player in the final victory of Premières last season, is a team in England to face Ireland in Bristol next Sunday. It is not inconceivable that England can in the near future a backline entirely formed of saints.
“We are all very aligned with how we see the game,” explains Fly Half end Smith. “I played 50 games with Alex Mitchell now, I spent a lot of time telling him about how we see the game and the way we think it should be played.
“In particular last weekend, in the last 25 minutes, when the pressure was on and we had to make fairly important game management decisions, doing it with me made a huge difference and took a little bit of Weight on my shoulders. The wingers are great, I know what I’m going to get both. Having this familiarity around me made me settle slightly easier, rather than having to worry about what these guys are going to do. Knowing them as the back of my hand definitively facilitates my work. »»
Northampton had trouble reaching the coherent heights they reached last season on the way to the title of this campaign, but their attacking game is always the desire for many other clubs. Head coach Sam Vesty is one of the most popular offensive minds of sport, drilling the skills of capture and pass tire to get the most out of his back line. Smith and others brought some of his ideas in the Camp d’Engleterre; The “Slide” move used in Elliot Daly’s winning trial against France is a most used game, but that Northampton has nevertheless controlled in the last two seasons.
“You are not talking less but you do not waste communication,” says Sleightholme on how existing connections help in the field. “You have much more time to really use clear information, which can give you better results. Sometimes when you don’t know players too or what’s going on around you, it can become quite frantic.
“We work really hard to understand each other in this environment and understand the communication we need to get some results.”
Northampton Academy continues to produce a certain number of best talents, with the OpenSide Henry Pollock a star of the future which is not far from international honors while being eligible U20, and their U18s winning the PremierHip Academy League on Sunday. But the jewel of their crown can prove to be a collection elsewhere. After the sad disappearance of Worcester, Smith was quickly attracted to the gardens of Franklin; This was the confidence that the club had with the 20 -year -old player that they were ready to let Dan Biggar leave for Toulon in the month following his arrival.
“He entered and he really took the bull by the horns,” recalls Sleightholme. “He came with very good confidence to run and demand people from people.
“Obviously, everyone thought at the time that it was going to be a big loss with Biggs, but he intervened and did his thing. It is very cool on the ground. He knows the game very well and understands it very well – that is obviously what you want with your 10. ”
