I remember making my ‘second’ England début in 1986 against Wales at Twickenham. Opposite me was John Devereux, Bridgend, Lions and Rugby League International on his eventual CV. He was one of a multitude of top class Welsh centres in the game at that time. I was instructed to break the gain line and it resulted in a huge number of largely inconclusive but momentous collisions in the middle. We did win but I was dropped one game later when Scotland, stuffed with stars, gave us a seeing to at Murrayfield and it eventually took a couple of years for my true skillsets to appear on a national stage. It is complicated in the middle of the field is what I am saying, everyone has a view on what is required and things do not happen overnight.

Did you know that when an inside centre (12) receives the ball he has up to a dozen options? Answers on a postcard please. Point being that you need clarity and confidence as well as instinctive ability to make this position your own. You also need some time to generate that confidence and build some teamship amongst your fellow three-quarters, not to mention the backrow.

As England survey this coming weekend, the public commentary on our midfield has degenerated into farce. Three respected media names have offered up Ben Earl as an option to play 12, then Freddie Steward, and now the debutant fullback Furbank, instead of his club captain Dingwall. Don’t worry that they have never played there. Remember Sam Burgess, England’s disaster at 12 or even Andy Farrell in 2007? We really do not learn. Or else bring back Tuilagi regardless. What aspiring English centres such as Max Ojomoh or Will Joseph think of the situation right now I cannot think, not to mention Dingwall, Lawrence or Slade who have had little or no ball to use. 

Then I read a senior England player with more than 100 caps suggesting publicly that in National squad practice they have seldom practiced any back moves. My first inclination is to rubbish that comment but when we look at the Murrayfield performance you do wonder. In my Bath/Quins/England days, with the time we had we went through every last detail for our strike moves and tactical play until we got it right. You do not win championships, cups and leagues by chance against supreme opposition. In the 80’s and 90’s our numerical superiority was well offset by extremely powerful club systems especially in France, Wales and Scotland and you had to earn every single victory.

What to improve on from Murrayfield last weekend? No sympathy on the pass, operating behind the gain line, running across the field, kicking away possession when in the 22. Cardinal sins for any back-line.

England’s travails in the middle of the field are serious .The basic approach of a side’s midfield play sets the tone for the entire team, Scotland and Ireland have it in multiples and South Africa have 5 world class centres from which to choose and all of whom could and have fitted into the Springbok system. Esterhuizen cannot get into the squad, and he would be first choice for England. France’s resurgence was built on Ntamack, Danty and Fickou (well ok, as well as Dupont!) although their depth is now questionable – Moefana seems to run across the field and cannot pass as we expect a Frenchman to do. There must be others.

Borthwick has not been helped that his first choice midfield is only now available to him in the 4th match. Clarity in attack and defence is a tough call against an Ireland team who have an abundance of both and it is now when we will find out how good a selector he is and whether his coaching team have enough experience to help him pick a squad to achieve an unlikely win. The players are good enough but need to be given a direction and then some confidence to carry their club form into the International arena. If they are given a chance to mould their skills in this white hot pressure, they will respond and enjoy the benefit of the doubt as they improve, exactly what is being accorded to the Wales squad right now. 

I am not too sure whether the Irish care too much, over and above their relentless focus on performance and success. Back to the public commentary which has Ireland 6-1 on for a victory – ridiculous odds in a two horse race where the current opprobium could spark a vicious reaction from the men in white.