Matt Dawson column: A Grand Slam ought to be seen as ‘stepping stone’

Matt Dawson column: A Grand Slam ought to be seen as ‘stepping stone’


A hazard is when groups hit their absolute pomp in the midst of a World Cup cycle.

We have seen it earlier than. However New Zealand and South Africa have each gained back-to-back World Cups and been the perfect crew on the earth over sustained intervals.

It isn’t a unfavorable to be the perfect crew on the earth earlier than 2027.

If England can climb the rankings by profitable a Six Nations or Nations Championship and get themselves to primary or two, they are going to be in a robust place to achieve a World Cup last. That is the final word purpose.

Folks all the time speak about peaking too early, however I see it otherwise. These are the moments the place you get all of your learnings in, and in case you go on a profitable run then so be it.

England are usually not going to go undefeated all the best way to the World Cup, and a part of the training course of is determining the way you bounce again from defeat.

In a bizarre approach, I might truly like England to lose a recreation sooner or later, as a result of what you don’t need is their first loss coming in a World Cup knockout match.

England have been in complete management this autumn and have proven they’ll win ugly too.

Coming off that emotional excessive in opposition to New Zealand was all the time going to be robust, and in 2019 they had been miles off backing up that well-known semi-final win.

Nevertheless, they proved in opposition to Argentina they’ll do it.

In the event that they do ship a giant efficiency, say, at Murrayfield, then the problem is backing it up the next week.

When you find yourself on a profitable run you may actually drill into the small particulars, whereas at first was about choice, fashion of play, or accidents.

England need not fear about that now, it is about refining the little issues that make you a high aspect.

Sir Clive Woodward known as these the “one percenters”, the tiny particulars that make all of the distinction.

Successful groups have the basics locked in, which permits coaches to spend time on every part else.

A great deal of the present England squad have by no means had the possibility to give attention to these smaller parts.

That’s the reason Eire and France have put collectively lengthy profitable runs.

Now that England know tips on how to win video games, they’ll develop additional to push on the high of the Six Nations.

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