Olly Barkley says England need to play to their strengths at the World Cup, with Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half.
Barkley predicts Wilkinson start and says pack need to power England
Injured England international Olly Barkley says their forward power and the creative spark of Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton could help Martin Johnson's men make the World Cup final - with Jonny Wilkinson starting at fly-half.
Barkley believes England's usual power in the pack can still trouble the best teams in the world during the upcoming tournament in New Zealand, and feels they must play to those strengths to be successful.
Johnsons' side have shown some more attacking intentions during the last year, but the foundation for any World Cup success will still come from the forwards, according to Barkley.
"Well we know they have the game capable of challenging the big hitters, the heavyweights, if they get everything on point," Barkley said in his column for
Blokely.
"Everything is securing their set piece, disrupting and sometimes pinching that of the oppositions, making their tackles and arguably the most disruptive action in our game today, completely obliterating defensive breakdowns.
"These have been some of England's trump cards over the last nine months. A seamless and aggressive set piece backed up by some big defence in the tackle and on the floor. Sprinkle with some magic fairy dust in the shape of Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton and you've got yourself a side capable of worrying any side in the world."
Wilko
Barkley has been impressed with England's pack, and also with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who he believes will start England's first World Cup game.
"The pack, as you'd expect from an England team, look aggressive, cohesive and confident. This is a good sign. The fat boys win you ball, they take it forward and they help you keep it," Barkley added.
"I can't tell you how much simpler and easier a game of rugby is when you're watching eight blokes trudge up the field of play. This particular aspect of their game will please the England management no end.
"Wilko's still got it. Written off by some critics, I thought he looked like the Jonny of old against Wales at Twickenham. Hungry for the ball, dangerous at the line, creative when bringing others into the game and an unrivalled ability to put pressure on the opposition by controlling the score board with his left foot.
"I'd be surprised if he doesn't start down in Dunedin in a few weeks where the weather is positively arctic at the moment."
Worry
Barkley was worried with England's lack of creative spark despite dominating possession against Wales last weekend, but believes Ashton and Youngs could cure that problem.
"What may provide a few sleepless moments on the BA flight to NZ will be what they were able to achieve, or more appropriately, unable to achieve, with 70% possession against Wales at the Millennium. Production and retention was good but it was fairly clear to see that if the ball doesn't come back quickly then they can struggle to make scoring chances for themselves.
"A fit Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton will vastly improve the England attack, of this there's no doubt. It's not that the guys currently playing in those positions are poor, quite the opposite, but these two give England an edge that I think they miss in their absence.
"What big games involving big teams often come down to is the ability for a side to exert their game more accurately and more frequently than the opposition. If England can do this then I think they have the game to take them to a final. If they struggle at source then I fear they may struggle to get on top down under. "
The full interview can be read in Blokely, www.blokely.com.
