Dismal England once again

England managed to stumble to victory in Rome. One flash of brilliance from Johnny Wilkinson, a better kick that wasn't charged down, any of 3 line outs working right for Italy, or Jamie Noon missing an ankle tap and the story would have been very different.

Yes, it was that close and that nervous. In the first half England looked professional. Italy looked much better than in years gone by, but they're still lacking flair in their backs even more than England. In the second half Italy didn't look much better - they really only mounted one good attack, but then so did England - but England suddenly looked inept. They kept giving the ball back to the Italians as the Italians suddenly competed at ruck and maul and England didn't know what to do with the competition.

Having said it was nervous, it was also curiously lifeless. Brian Moore at one point in the commentary said how bored he was. I don't often agree with him, he's the most one-eyed patriot I've ever heard commentate, but he summed it up nicely this time. Italy had the ball, but never gave the conviction they could really use it excitingly. England kept giving the ball back to them, or more often the Italians took it from them.

Nick Mallet must give great half-time talks. Brian Ashton rather less so. I don't know what Mallet's contract is like, but he's struggling with lack of players, depth and talent, Parisse aside. Masi is a centre pressed into playing at fly-half. Sadly, he still looks like a centre, and from there the backs stutter and misfire. (In fairness, he plays like a good centre, but that's not so great in a 10 shirt.) But, if was making a choice about the two coaches - one can stay and one can go, Brian Ashton would be out. Mallet it making his poor resources work, and they've scared Ireland and England in successive weeks. They'll struggle more if France turn up and play, and they'll struggle if Wales keep their form going, but they'll probably beat Scotland unless Scotland suddenly turn the corner. England, on the other hand, are the largest rugby union in the world, the most players, and certainly right up for the rest of the structures and support (I prefer Super-14 as a training ground to Heineken Cup say, but it's not a clear cut choice). Given all of that, they look incredibly lacklustre. France should rip them apart, Ireland too. Italy were genuinely unlucky that they lost to England today. Did anyone ever think those words would be written about a rugby match I wonder?