England - profile

England head for their November internationals against Australia, Romaniaand South Africa a rather chastened bunch. The defeat in Dublin was a realsmack in the face for Clive Woodward and his players who, instead ofbasking in an expected Grand Slam triumph, are wearing a thorny TripleCrown after tripping at the final hurdle for the third successive season.But Ireland, battle hardened and brimming with confidence after animpressive win in Wales, played out of their skins and it would have takena genuinely great side to have subdued them. A depleted England, on theother hand, had only red faces after proving rusty and jittery in amaelstrom of a match.Such had been England's dominance in the first part of the Six Nations,the perceived wisdom was that whichever players stepped up from itspowerful serried ranks, the team would have the ability and mental strengthto win the toughest of matches.With 20-20 hindsight, that was wishful thinking. No pack can be deprived ofthree significant warriors such as Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Johnson andPhil Vickery. These are the ball carriers who set up the positions fromwhich England attacked with such glee in the spring. The 'go-forward'factor as Woodward calls it. Skipper Johnson is also an indestructiblerallying point when the going gets tough and they won't have him for theWallaby test. Rival coach Eddie Jones calls him the glue in the Englandteam and they did look lost without him in Dublin.

Then there is the continuing mess in the line-out. England need quick,clean ball to give their backs room but against the Irish it was neitherfor the simple reason England couldn't throw the ball in straight. Modernhookers should be able to do this in their sleep and Phill Greening'schronic problem has cost him his place. No wonder the backs, trying to playthe right game in the wrong place, were neutered by lack of space, time andflying tons of Irish beef.Woodward's reaction to the defeat has been to make seven changes from theDublin starting XV including a complete new front row. No Johnson to throwto for Dorian West but there is new lock and Leicester team-mate Ben Kay. Itcould be end for veteran Justin Leonard, replaced by Graham Rowntree andthe dynamic Phil Vickery returns from injury. In the back row, Richard Hillreverts to his favourite blindside and Woodward gambles on Joe Worsley atNo 8 even though his club form has not been outstanding.

But it is behind the pack - Kyran Bracken replaces out-of-sorts Matt Dawsonat scrum half and Austin Healey starts on the wing against his favouriteAussies - where Woodward has been bold and eyebrows have been raised byJason Robinson's switch to full back.Too small say the critics. What about those tons of Aussie beef descendingon him as he waits for the high ball? But we've seen how much damage he cando in a confined space. Would you kick the ball to Billy Whizz in acres ofit? Over to you Mr Jones.

England play Australia, Romania and South Africa at Twickenham in three one-off internationals on successive Saturday's starting November 10.

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