Well. England has blasted from the gates of this years 6 Nations, walking into the cauldron that is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, and walking out with the points. Whilst Wales had not enjoyed a lot of luck through the winter tests, they had kept the games close. And with England being the ones to roll in, there was no way the game would be anything other than a titanic battle.
And so, it proved to be. Kind of. England walked out from the Millennium Stadium the winners, 26 - 19. Except that the scoreline in many ways did not really show the true story. England where just that little bit better than Wales all over the park. And also had the on-fire Chris Ashton. A convert from Rugby League, he has taken to the 15 man game, and really exploded. During the game with Wales, he ran in 2 tries. Complete with his celebratory swallow dive.
However, England is not just about Ashton. He is ably assisted by the likes of Flood, Cueto, Tindall, and Corbisiero. Players who began to gel through the 2010 winter tests. The winter tests where quite a blooding for this new crop of players. South Africa ground a result over England, and New Zealand hammered England. However, England took Australia apart in the 2010 Winter tests. The games against South Africa and New Zealand are where England showed some flashes of what was possible. Unfortunately, against New Zealand, the occasional moments where England where really second-best saw New Zealand take them apart.
However, green shoots where emerging, and Johnsons time in charge was beginning to show some signs of turning into something good for the future.
Roll on to the 2011 6 Nations championship. England had been given a fantastic schedule, with 3 home matches back to back to back in the middle of their competition. The first game against Wales, then at home to Italy, France, and Scotland, before rounding off their campaign against Ireland in Dublin.
The first game, as I said, saw England walk out of Wales with all the points. The next game against Italy saw them put on a display where everything just clicked. Italy is one of those teams where the top flight teams should win, but only if they bring their "A" game. Indeed, Ireland struggled, and just barely scraped a win in their opening game.
England had spent all week saying it would be tough, and in the end, it wasnt. England played for fun, and Ashton garnered 4 tries. A record-equaling haul. Something that had not been achieved since the 1910's! Granted, Italy did not play like they could, which gives Englands critics ammo to shoot down Englands chances. But the fact is, it just worked from England. They moved the ball, stole lineouts, and stomped on Italy from a great height.
What does this say about the future for England?
Well, things bode well. Will they win the World Cup? Unlikely. They will have to go through the irresistible New Zealand, and the rough and ready South Africans. However, Englands star is rising. They have a crop of young players who are showing the potential to go on to great things. Could they win? Yes. After all, it is the World Cup. It is all about one game at a time. After all, in 2007 England got to the World Cup final despite being deeply unfancied, and still trying to find its feet following the teams stagnation post-2003 World Cup win.
Could England win? It is possible. We will have a much better idea after England take on the French. A team that can beat anyone on its day.
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