Six Nations team preview — England: Eddie Jones faces first test of post-World Cup disaster era

Ahead of the 2016 Six Nations, Geoffrey Riddle previews England's chances as they enter a first major tournament following their World Cup nightmare.

Eddie Jones will face his first test as England coach at the Six Nations Championship. Henry Browne / Reuters

Some coaches may feel the weight of expectation, but not Eddie Jones. The Australian, 56, gets up when the birds are still asleep in order to fulfil his own personal ambition and has high hopes for his new-look England team.

And how England need him.

England have wilted since the highs of 2003, so much so that at their own World Cup they could not exit the Pool stages.

England have been the runners-up in the Six Nations for the past four seasons.

They are ranked eighth in the world, according to the official rankings, which makes them only the fourth-best side in the tournament.

Can Jones stop the rot quickly enough?

Jones has made some bold calls since he took on England’s managerial poisoned chalice after the departure of Stuart Lancaster.

Chris Robshaw has been shunted on to the blindside in an effort to deal with England’s weakness at openside flanker. His captaincy has been transferred to Dylan Hartley, a natural leader but who has a tendency to explode at inappropriate times. Jones believed he had the answer to his side’s midfield conundrum, but then Manu Tuilagi suffered an injury and the hopes of a nation now rest on Jonathan Joseph.

This is all merely tinkering, though. These are not the ingredients to a team who are widely considered the overwhelming favourites. England have won just one title in the northern hemisphere tournament in 12 years.

There is hope, however. England have the best draw out of any of the six sides. A winnable trip to Murrayfield to face a rejuvenated Scotland will set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Win the Calcutta Cup and England will fly to Italy on a wave of optimism ahead of the crucial showdown at Twickenham against reigning champions Ireland.

Win that, and the momentum could well carry them through the clash against Wales, who so painfully inflicted the 28-25 defeat on them at the World Cup. France would then stand in their way of a Grand Slam on the final weekend, and who knows what mood Les Bleus might be in by then?

PLAYER TO WATCH — DYLAN HARTLEY

Chris Robshaw is a fine man, but as a captain his decision-making was not decisive enough. He also lacked bite. The new skipper has both. Hartley can still boil over easily — he has been banned a total of 54 weeks during his career. Is he the right man for the job? It will be fun finding out.

STAR IN THE MAKING — ELLIOTT DALY

The Wasps centre has been culled from the England set-up ahead of the Scotland game, but that does not mean his Six Nations is over. The centre position once again haunts England after Manu Tuilagi’s injury and Daly could well face a recall. He deserves the opportunity at least.

POINT TO PROVE — EDDIE JONES

The new England coach has a strong CV, having coached the Brumbies, Australia, South Africa as an assistant and Japan. Jones, who is a workaholic, has a certain way of going about things, however, and it remains to be seen if his approach will work for England.

PREDICTION — 2nd

England do not have the track record to suggest that they can ping the starting gate and fly to their first Six Nations title since 2011. Neither Wales, nor Ireland, will fear travelling to Twickenham after England’s miserable World Cup campaign and if Vern Cotter’s Scotland can draw first blood, the wheels could easily come off England’s chariot. They will do well to better the last four seasons.

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