Geordan Murphy stepped up to save Leicester from defeat at Saracens with the most dramatic moment of the weekend. The drop goal was inevitable - at least it should have been as the Tigers pack produced a terrific piece of controlled driving play to leave the kicker within 22 metres of the posts and straight in front.

The drama was not just Murphy's wobbly, but to Leicester eyes, wonderful strike but the manner in which Toby Flood seemed intent on doing everything within his powers NOT to take advantage of this gruelling final drive.

Flood: not quite ready for England duty, says Stuart

On at least two, maybe three, occasions, the entire crowd looked for the England fly-half to ready himself for the kick only to witness him scuffling off the left or right away from the decisive moment. James Grindal was either deaf or close to rugby mad as he carried straight into the heart of the Saracens' defence with the explicit risk of being turned over or knocking on the ball.

Flood spent the afternoon gesticulating like a French traffic cop in the middle of that fearsome roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe. Yet suddenly he was off centre stage at the very instant Leicester expected. He received one pass and dummied to drop and never again placed himself in position to take the responsibility of the kick.

It was a case of all being well that ended well for Leicester but I can't help but think that this indecision probably sealed the fly half spot for the Wales game. Charlie Hodgson must surely retain the berth. Flood has to stop being quite the general for the other fourteen players and remember his individual role in generating the right sort of ball for his back line. He is currently off kilter and the comparisons with Brock James failure to drop a goal against Leinster in a Heineken Cup epic a few years ago were in no way flattering.

Manu Tuialgi was another matter. From the position of the commentary box where it is impossible to take one's eyes off the game and focus on an individual for any length of time I was impressed with his powerful charges. Ed Slater's try was the result of a strong thrust down the right touch line and the winning drop goal occurred because of a blasting break from deep. He did enough for me to ink him in for England as the attacking threat that has been badly lacking until now.

Yet others at the game, whose views I respect thought he looked unfit and fitful in his application. That worries me but sometimes you have to trust the evidence of your own eyes and on that basis I take improved fitness on trust and would pick him for next Saturday. England needs someone to produce some penetration and a chance of constructing tries which would give them something to defend.

Wales will not lose with one as Scotland definitely did and Italy partially. England will have to win it and that requires more variety and intent in attack. The rumours from across the Severn are positive. Twenty miles east of Wales I am hearing Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, George North and even Matthew Rees will be fit. It is another step up for this young England team and I, for one, hope Wales force them into showing more than we have so far seen.

Judgement has been coloured by results; it is performance this early stage England should be measured by and that, to date, has been as poor as the results have been good.

Wales are a decent team and defeat would not necessarily have me screaming for blood. It is the manner of the England performance that will intrigue me. It promises to be a fascinating game.

So it was at Bath as we saw a good old West Country ding dong; a proper fight to warm up the spectators in the first minute, conditions in which you wouldn't want your enemy's dog to be caught out in and some stirring rugby.

Most of that came from a Gloucester team who won in conditions that didn't suit their slick back line. They are making a move up the table and are the prime contenders to muscle their way into the seemingly settled quartet of Harlequins, Saracens, Northampton and (thanks to the magnificent Murphy) Leicester.

Exeter remains heavily involved on many fronts. Qualification for the Heineken Cup, the play offs and the Amlin are all in their firing line. Last week a lot of people in the office talked about whether the Tigers would bounce back from the shock off losing at Exeter. What shock? It is time the English rugby fan realised the Chiefs, superbly coached and passionately committed are here to stay.

At the other end of the table Exeter's win at Wasps had profounder implications at the other end those of little faith expected the Devonian team to be found. The falling giants must have been jolted as Newcastle backed up their bonus point loss in Bath last week with victory over London Irish in the North East; the gap between them and Wasps is only six points. Worcester is a further four points clear of Newcastle but with a superior points difference and a run of home fixtures that strongly suggests we have another of those compelling head to heads at the bottom.

May the team that plays positive rugby survive and stick a finger up to the faces of those who link relegation with unadventurous rugby. It does not have to be that way. Under Steve Bates the Falcons flew the bottom with some brilliant attacking rugby a few seasons ago. Can they, under Gary Gold, John Wells and Mike Ford, do it again?

Stuart answers your emails...

Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...

Did Flood bottle it?

Hi Stuart, I watched the Sarries v Leicester game and thoroughly enjoyed it! From an England perspective it was great to see Manu Tuilagi creating his usual havoc in attack and defence. I was less impressed with Toby Flood and very disappointed he did not step up to take that drop kick - do you think he bottled it or was he overruled by his captain?
Jason Brekings

STUART REPLIES: Jason, I think my column gives my answer to that one. No to Flood and yes to Tuilagi is the Barnes verdict.

Give England a chance

Hi Stuart, I was flabbergasted at the Rugby Club's view of England so far - talk about over the top!

Before the 6N, the common view was that two or three wins would be a good return and that performance more than result was important. It is clear to most England fans that with limited time available the new coaching team and squad have prioritised defense given that the first matches were away from home. This decision was further justified by the poor playing conditions - did you really expect a new England team to throw the ball around in the snowy Italian conditions? That would have been suicide!

With the two week break before the Wales game which is at home, I'm sure the focus will be on delivering a more balanced game. The conditions will hopefully be better and the coaches knew they would most likely have Lawes, Tuilagi and Flood back, all players which will help deliver a more attacking dimension.

Finally, to compare Wales's attacking precision (off the top line out ball with Roberts attacking the gainline) which has taken four years to develop with England's which is its very early infancy is grossly unfair!

If this had been the previous team with the old coach at the helm then fine to pan them but not in this situation. At least give the players and coaches the full 6N to see how they have progressed and whether they have delivered on their initial promises.
Ken Joseph

STUART REPLIES: Ken, I understand your thoughts but the facts are that England has played the two weakest teams in the tournament and ONLY focussed on defence and against Scotland it took unbelievable ineptitude from the hosts to blow it after making several clean line breaks. I am critical because I am sceptical when it comes to the blindingly-naive positivity I see elsewhere. England may make a long term appointment before this tournament is over and I would like to see a proper analysis of Stuart Lancaster's credentials and not a hopeful shoe in that I sense Twickenham would prefer. I will not heap criticism on England if they lose to Wales but if they offer nothing in attack again I will not be soft on them.

I am English and believe we have the resources to set a high bar and not the low one so many seem to demand right now. Isn't it a little bit patronising to say, 'heck, they are a young team, bless 'em?'

Penalising clubs

Dear Stuart, to end the penalising of those teams that develop England players due to the Autumn Internationals and Six Nations, would you consider the following proposal: That those teams with the most players in the EPS at the start of the season or those that finished in the top four the previous year have their fixtures against each other moved during this period. I am sure it will hurt less when a depleted side loses to another depleted side than when a team you know you would beat normally comes to your own patch and robs you of 4 points.
David Paxton

STUART REPLIES: David, I like the gist of the idea. Very smart indeed. Visionary enough to ensure it'll never be taken up but were I on the Premiership Board I'd have this ingeniously simple and smart idea up for discussion. Excellent question.

Wasted talent?

Hi Stuart, I am as competitive as anyone, but I along with just about every England rugby person I talk to (I am in rugby business) are of the same mind that they would just love to see England actually play some rugby even if they lose by 5 tries to 3! At least show us they can play whereas all the feedback I get is that no one is ALLOWED to try anything in case they get out of position and leave the defence with a problem! Is that what you hear? It seems to me the players have the talent; could just play heads up rugby; but are not allowed to - even in practice when they do something inventive they are pulled up! So it must be 100% down to the coaches the rubbish we are being fed?
Andrew Peters

STUART REPLIES: Andrew, 100 per cent? That's the whole shooting match; even I am not that critical! But here is the fact, were you a newcomer to the sport and watched England's last two games, 'rubbish' might have been just the word to pluck from the bin of linguistic insults. Fans just want to see their team win but what about those who care about the sport and its development? England has done little to engender new supporters. It is similar to Saracens who are champions of England but cannot raise the level of support because 'the Wembley experience or not' to the newcomer the game is made tedious. But 100 per cent the coaches? Radical call, Andrew.

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