England rugby must try harder

The first two rounds of the Six Nations have exploded across the sporting landscape insuperlative – draining displays of skill and power. But still the England Rugby Union team is as baffling as Fermat’s Last Theorem. Why is it that a nation with resources other countries can only dream of performs so fitfully? How come England can produce a coach in charge of the world’s top nation – but that nation isn’t England?

The England result against Italy looked good on paper, especially when compared with Italy’s narrow defeat by France, but closer analysis isn’t so encouraging. Especially worrying are the 40 tackles missed by England, a detail that if not improved upon will almost certainly result in crushing defeats by Ireland and France.

The Marcus Smith-Owen Farrell double act is working as well as a Liz Truss Budget and should be discontinued. But Smith and Ollie Lawrence would be a mighty effective combination, and England should start with Henry Arundell against Wales: he’s the type of player who can scare the bejesus out of the opposition just by being on the pitch.

Steve Borthwick might not set too many pulses racing just yet, and the comparison with the Englishman managing Ireland is hard to resist. Andy Farrell has attained the appearance of an otherworldly bearded mystic as he sits aloof, high in the stands, surveying his adopted nation play with such deep conviction.

The game against France in Dublin was an electrifying piece of theatre but it was a pity about the James Lowe try: his touchdown was a feat of athleticism but it should have been disallowed. There are more cameras at Twickenham than on a Chinese weather balloon; why did none of them pick up that Lowe’s foot was in touch?

Any encounter between the No.