Wales are Grand Slam champions and they have to back it up by beating South Africa on Saturday.  It is time for Wales to step up against the southern hemisphere giants |
Wales have been good over the past few years and have won a couple of Grand Slams, but they have never looked like taking on the world and it is about time they did. This would be a good time to do it because they are playing South Africa, New Zealand and Australia at home over the next month and I expect Wales to perform. They didn't do themselves justice, even taking their injuries into account, on the tour of South Africa in the summer. Now they're back home, at pretty much full strength, and they should beat the weakened world champions. South Africa have not picked any of their overseas-based players and no matter what they say I don't think they hold this tour in high regard, or else they would have come with a full-strength team. People are saying England should win three of their four games, so Wales should definitely win two of these three games against the big southern hemisphere sides - if they don't they should be disappointed. Saturday is England's first game since Martin Johnson took hands-on control and there are a few interesting selections.  | 606: DEBATE |
You have got to win your line-out and in Steve Borthwick and Nick Kennedy England have picked two superb line-out exponents for their second row. Kennedy has deserved to play for England for the past three of four seasons - statistically he is one of the best second rows in the Premiership - and Borthwick is a good, proven leader, so I have no qualms with that whatsoever. The selection of Tom Croft over James Haskell at blind-side flanker is based on form, without a doubt. Croft has been there or thereabouts for the past two seasons and has been playing well for Leicester. I went for Haskell because even though he has been in average form for Wasps, I think he would perform better for England as he would flourish around better players. While Croft has been picked on form I don't think Riki Flutey's selection over Toby Flood at inside centre is on form. | If Flutey doesn't play well I see picking him as Johnson's first fundamental mistake |
That is more down to Johnson seeing Flutey fitting into the way he wants to play better than Flood - he is part of the jigsaw Johnson is assembling. Flutey may have been born in New Zealand but Johnson has been impressed with him and you know he has been accepted by his peers when he is voted players' player of the season, as he was last campaign. He is respected and Johnson sees him as someone who can be a leader - all he has to do now is perform, which is easier said than done. He has not really shone this season - Wasps have not been playing well in general - but if he does not perform for England then is it a bad choice, because Flood is in good form. And if Flutey doesn't play well, I see picking him as Johnson's first fundamental mistake. Rightly or wrongly I look at Flutey and outside centre Jamie Noon and think 'I hope there's something better'. In fact, it's not a question of hope, I think there is something better and that those places are up for grabs, unless they play unbelievable rugby - I don't think that's the final pairing, unless something miraculous happens. It is a very quick back three and let's hope they get the ball in their hands, which I imagine is what Johnson wants. It is a bit like Sir Clive Woodward when he took over - he told his team to throw caution to the wind and just go out and give it a lash. | I wish them well but even though New Zealand are under-strength I find it hard to say Scotland will win that one |
If England go out with that same philosophy it would be amazing, but they will be dead on their feet because they are not fit enough to play that kind of rugby. I first said it about three years ago and Lawrence Dallaglio has now come out and said it as well. There are a lot of new combinations and all Johnson wants to see is a sign that he has picked the right combinations. There is no easy way of saying this but Scotland are on the ropes and the whole of Scottish rugby is under severe pressure to perform, or show signs that they are performing and can compete. It is a very important autumn series for them, starting against New Zealand on Saturday, and somehow they have got to get rugby supporters back at Murrayfield. There are two ways of doing that - by playing entertaining rugby and by winning - and they have got to start doing one of the two. I wish them well, but even though New Zealand are under-strength, I find it hard to say Scotland will win that one. I mentioned Keith Earls as one to keep an eye on as a possible Lions tourist a few weeks ago, and he will make his Ireland debut on Saturday - it will be interesting to see how he goes. Ireland have got to show they will be in the frame to challenge for the Six Nations this season because they have flattered to deceive. They have had the team over the past three seasons to win a Grand Slam or a championship, yet they haven't. This autumn series will show us if they mean business or not under new coach Declan Kidney. Jeremy Guscott was talking to BBC Sport's James Standley
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