Fijians are on display for and against England, Ireland are looking to make history (again), Scotland have a Six Nations point to prove and Emily Scarratt returns
With Billy Vunipola declared fit to start against Fiji, it is little surprise that Eddie Jones delayed naming his starting XV by 24 hours. Leaving the Wales match – the day after the Premiership final – aside, Vunipola has started in every game under Jones and while he is not the only player to do so, he is the most important. A leaner, meaner Vunipola, making carries in areas that hurt the opposition, has been the bedrock of Jones’s side and without him England would have needed to find other means of breaking the gain line. His selection though means there is just one change in the pack and another chance for Teimana Harrison to stake his claim as England’s No7 while behind the scrum, perhaps more by circumstance than design, Jones’s lineup genuinely excites. Elliot Daly’s selection on the wing does not hurt England’s firepower and with Alex Goode at full-back, facing the side against whom he dazzled on his first home start four years ago, the hosts should have the capacity to play with real swagger. The concern, with two fly-halves already on the pitch, is that - much like in the first half against Uruguay last year - England look to throw the ball around from the outset and are not direct enough. It is hard however, to see Jones, who has been at pains to point out that he does not want his side to take Fiji on at their own game, allowing that to happen.
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