Like the rest of the England team? Extremely safe? I'm sorry I can't agree. England are far from the finished product but are looking to play in an expansive style , constantly looking to shift the ball even when close to contact, offloading often making frequent line breaks. It's similar to the way the All-blacks play and sure we haven't got their skills, but we're having a good go at it. Englands back 3 doesn't appear to have the right balance, definitely agree, and Goode to me had a bit of a shocker, but Brown is a live-wire and can create something from nothing. Ashton is a different sort of player but his try-scoring ability is better than anyone in the championship besides perhaps Fofana. That's not a fact you an really argue with. Now look at England's players, many of whom have only recently been capped. Lawes, Launchbury, Parling, Wood, Cole, T. Youngs... those are all modern forwards who don't just fit into the stereotypes of their position...they have skills you don't necessarily expect from the positions they play. It's a more versatile pack than Irelands. I can possibly see more your point in the backs, with the likes of Brad Barritt. But whats safe about Ben Youngs? Tuilagi, Twelvetrees? Those two are not just big players but also extremely skilful ones. And whats safe about the way England are trying to play, the 1-15 game?
I know you weren't intending a comparison but I can't not: Ireland scored some nice tries but are nonetheless one of the more conservative teams in the championship, thankfully they are an extremely well drilled team with brilliant basics and very skillful. Kidneys approach to rugby is quite prosaic really, it's a style that few teams still try and play, but there's something hopeless predictable about the choke-and-hold, and Reddan/Murray on the loop. Irelands backline is better in that it is more established, far more functional but that's helped by the fact that Ireland can keep entire club partnerships intact. Farrell is no Sexton but he attacked the gainline yesterday in a way few of us have seen before.
Anyway, just a bit confused by your comment...personally I think England should be applauded for playing a brand of rugby which is not about individuals but about what those individuals can do as a team.
Re Billy, he's definitely not ready for a game as big as Ireland away, guys. If Morgan is out which would be a big shame ,I can't look past Haskell to come in and do a job at 8. The challenge will be to insofar as possible, stop O'Brien, Healy, Heaslip et al from getting too far over the gain-line. Haskell, Wood and co can do that if anyone can
