Wales lacked will to win against Ireland, while Chris Robshaw and Dylan Hartley's England places should be under threat

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  • With another weekend free of Six Nations action, it’s a good opportunity to look at where each of the sides are.

    Wales. This is a tricky one. There had been so many positives from the first couple of games but the Ireland game brought things back down to earth a little bit. I don’t know if there had been too many plaudits, because they were just off the pace a bit in Dublin.

    International rugby often comes down to a will to win – wanting to put in that big tackle or smash a ruck and we didn’t see a lot of that – and I think the coaches have to take some of the blame there. Wales allowed Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray to have a free ride and they bossed the game.

    Wales should have been in their faces from the start, getting them on the ground, blocking runs – nothing dirty but just a professionalism that doesn’t allow these very good players to dominate a game.

    Wales have done some very good things but, in those bigger games, need to be street-wise and give as good as they get – I sometimes think we’re too nice, but there has to be a balance between aggression and control that they need to find; expect some changes now for the Italy game.

    Ireland have been Ireland. They have been very well drilled and do the basics of the game well. Against Wales they comfortably won the battle up front and that set the platform for their win. You look at that side and every player is comfortable with the game-plan, they know their jobs and execute very well – and that’s hard to play against.

    At no point did they lose their control and that’s so important in international rugby. It is very difficult to go from playing aggressively in a tackle or ruck and then have to put in a delicate pass or use soft hands but they are doing it well and it will continue to help them as the competition goes on.

    Scotland beat England for the first time in 10 years in the Six Nations.

    Scotland beat England for the first time in 10 years in the Six Nations.

    England came unstuck at Murrayfield and I think their issue is some of the players being picked are simply not good enough. The breakdown against Scotland was an absolute disaster and Chris Robshaw has to have a massive question mark over his place now.

    I just don’t see any dynamism from him. He’s not winning ball on the floor and not making strong carries so I wonder what he’s doing there. Someone like Sam Underhill would be a much better option. Here’s a young, hungry guy who is fast and powerful, great in defence and has made an impact off the bench.

    I’ve spoken about it before but again, I don’t know how Dylan Hartley is in the side, and I’d also drop Jonny May too. I’m not sure he’s got the greatest rugby brain and when you have Denny Solomona in the form he’s in I would be picking him every time.

    I’ve been critical of Scotland in the past, but it was great for them to get that win over England – and it was much deserved too. The thing for them is now backing it up. There’s no point having one big performance and everyone being happy about it. Scotland have to string wins together if people are going to take them seriously on the world stage. The starts next weekend in Ireland and that isn’t going to be easy.

    I have given France a lot of stick over the tournament, but it was good to see them get a win over Italy last time out. The interesting game for me though was their under-20 game. That is the side they should be putting their efforts into right now. They need to make sure those players are getting the opportunity to really develop and become the France side of the future.

    Their league structure isn’t helping with this as a lot of these U20 players should be featuring for their club sides but can’t get into teams because of foreign imports. I know this first-hand because I was one of those imports.

    France's Rabah Slimani runs at Tommaso Boni.

    France’s Rabah Slimani runs at Tommaso Boni.

    Unless the players coming in are international class then it’s harming those young players – and those even younger who see these great players not getting a break, it can be massively disheartening, and is something that needs to be addressed.

    I’m really struggling with Italy. At the start of the tournament I was really hoping to see them do well, and even if they didn’t get results, I just wanted to see some development and we are not getting that. I know a lot of people have talked about Georgia coming in and being the sixth team in the competition, but I wonder if we would be better going back to the Five Nations.

    Games would all be competitive and, in a time when there is a call for players to play less, it would take a game out. Let’s see what happens next weekend.

    The Mike Phillips Rugby Academy in Dubai is run in conjunction with Just Play. Currently aimed at 3-11-year-olds you can register your child to be coached by Mike and the team by calling 04 348 3869 or visit http://justplay.ae/rugby/

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