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England needs to expand its game

Former England rugby captain Jason Robinson believes the national team must start playing a more expansive game.

Monday, 22 February 2010

Sportal.co.nz

Former England rugby captain Jason Robinson believes the national team must start playing a more expansive game.

England faces Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday after winning the first two of its Six Nations matches so far against Wales at home and away to Italy.

But it failed to impress especially in Rome, a match in which it was accused of being too cautious and in which first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson struggled with his goal-kicking.

Robinson believes it is time players such as Northampton full-back Ben Foden were given a chance.

He said: "Most people say there's a lack of vision and England are not really playing. England will be happy that they've won two from two, that is a positive, but I think we just all want to see England really go out and play.

"In the last game they were conservative. In the first minute I thought 'Oh yeah, England are going to start to use the ball and use the players they've got.'

"Unfortunately we missed a few kicks which put a bit of pressure on but players didn't seem to really want to play a wide, wide game and if you play against Italy up the middle you're in for a tough time.

"I'm really looking forward to England going out there, just taking the shackles off and really playing some rugby."

Asked on Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme if Wilkinson should be retained he said: "Jonny Wilkinson is a fantastic player for England, it's not very often he misses kicks and I think that was probably the biggest shock that he missed so many.

"He has been playing well but if players are not playing to what we would want then maybe there's time for a change.

"There's been a lot of talk about Ben Foden, whether he could come in and do something and I think guys like this have got to be given a chance.

"Guys like Ben Foden have been playing well all season and been ripping sides apart and if nothing is happening, why can't you get him on for 20 minutes and let's see what he can do?"

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