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<\/p>\nHow many column inches have been devoted to George Ford in recent months? He started the Six Nations as he finished his autumn international campaign against New Zealand \u2014 in complete control of proceedings. A fly half who has waited a good decade to be handed the keys, not just to the position but to the complete control of the team. Maro Itoje may lead by his example, but the Sale Sharks fly half is first among strategists.<\/p>\n
And yet his Sale team-mate, Luke Cowan-Dickie, a ferocious hooker in both attack and defence, will be equally important if England are to take the second step towards a shot at the grand slam in Paris, by beating Scotland at Murrayfield. On Tuesday, Ford offered up an accurate analysis of England\u2019s not always aesthetically pleasing pressure: \u201cYou want to make sure your foundations and fundamentals are strong.\u201d <\/p>\n
George needs those foundations. Whereas Scotland\u2019s lineout foundations collapsed in the Eternal City, quite probably costing them the match, England were immaculate against what can only be described as immature opposition in Wales.<\/p>\n
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Ford ran the show against Wales and was helped by England laying down strong foundations around him<\/p>\n
BOB BRADFORD \u2013 CAMERASPORT VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n
England kick a lot and they kick well. There\u2019s a reason, a rationale, that was missing in the dying embers of the Eddie Jones era and the early years of Steve Borthwick<\/a>\u2019s reign. \u201cThere\u2019s no point just kicking the ball and getting the ball [back] and not doing anything with it and kicking it again,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n This is pretty close to a perfect definition of England at their most mindless. Now there is a plan and \u2014 crucially \u2014 there are foundations. Set piece, defence and the kicking game. It merges into a whole when the masters of this style, the Springboks, are at their best. <\/p>\n When they delivered a record defeat of the All Blacks in Wellington, during last year\u2019s Rugby Championship, the now former New Zealand coach, Scott Robertson<\/a>, looked almost shell-shocked in the post-match TV interview as he accurately reflected on how the world champions reclaimed just about every box-kick and turned broken-field ball into brilliant running rugby.<\/p>\n I would love to see the Finn Russell, who has tormented England over the years, take the game to the visiting side and attack whenever he identifies space, but he\u2019s become a little too ready to play exactly the same territorial kicking game for Bath as Ford does for England. The English champions are a mirror image of South Africa; no surprise when you consider their coach is a South African.<\/p>\n Like he has done in the past, Russell needs to take the game to England and attack wherever he finds space<\/p>\n EPA\/RICCARDO ANTIMIANI<\/p>\n The Scotland fly half has too sharp a rugby brain to make too many daft decisions. And that will suit England fine. The safest option will be to clear the ball from their own tryline and reset the defence for the lineout.<\/p>\n And here, after a lengthy tactical diversion, we get to Cowan-Dickie. Scotland crumbled in Rome, but they will surely try to target the England lineout at its very source. <\/p>\n Itoje, the outstanding Ollie Chessum<\/a>, and Guy Pepper offer a fast-moving variety of options. Should Scotland stand still and dig their studs into the Murrayfield turf, England will steamroller them, force penalties, kick to the corner and score tries.<\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s lineout came under huge pressure in Rome, and ultimately crumbled<\/p>\n TIM ROGERS\/SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n Jamie George is the most accurate thrower in the England squad. Captain against Wales, his impact against Scotland will come from the bench. <\/p>\n If the score is close with half an hour to go, England will want his cool accuracy in times of potential crisis. If Cowan-Dickie is allowed an easy array of lineout options, there will be no crisis. Indeed, he is likely to be the bloke burrowing over for a first-half try \u2014 or two. <\/p>\n However, should Scotland do to him what Italy did to Ewan Ashman, Ford will find life much more difficult. It\u2019s rugby\u2019s drip effect. <\/p>\n Cowan-Dickie is a more aggressive player than George. He\u2019s a threat anywhere within ten metres of the tryline, but he\u2019s been found wanting as a thrower in the past. He has got to be perceived as an opportunity to every time England throw in.<\/p>\n Cowan-Dickie offers excellent carrying skills but his throwing at the lineout is less accurate than George\u2019s<\/p>\n EDITORIAL SIMON KING\/PROSPORTS\/SHUTTERSTOCK<\/p>\n![\"Rugby](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/\/542895c7-94bd-46f0-b9a4-9cfafc587412.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Italy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/\/803a9f00-332b-4a8b-b254-66527c9ee7ae.jpg\")
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