1. Build a Power Pack
England's front five is mobile but underpowered against the big beasts fielded by teams like Wales, South Africa, and a full-strength Australia. The scrum is not solid on its own put-in, or disruptive on the opposition's, and the lineout return was the lowest in the tournament. Mako Vunipola has to get fitter, and they need another tighthead to challenge Dan Cole, who was rarely dominant. Lancaster has to find a Bakkies Botha-style big unit like Dave Attwood, to pack alongside either Joe Launchbury, or Geoff Parling, or Courtney Lawes. A pairing of two athlete locks has helped England's breakdown, but leaves them light in the tight.
2. Find a True No.7
Like everyone, Lancaster has great regard for Chris Robshaw, but England must fast-track a horrible, quick, streetwise No.7 for 2015 before it's too late. The Six Nations captain cannot be faulted for attitude, commitment, work-rate, tackle-count, or a good pair of hands. But the Test arena is ruthless, and the evidence from Cardiff is that Robshaw must fight it out with Tom Wood and Tom Croft for the No.6 shirt. Robshaw is not a destructive ball-winning fetcher, and, even though the English forwards were on the back foot, he does not have the speed to do what Justin Tipuric does for Wales.
3. Pick backs with Pace
Brad Barritt is the Robshaw of the backline, but picking him in a line-up which also includes his Saracens buddies Owen Farrell and Alex Goode, leaves England short of pace and creativity. Nor is Barritt a foil for similarly crash-bang Manu Tuilagi. After impressing against the Scots, Billy Twelvetrees deserved another start against Italy to see if he could provide a spark inside Tuilagi, freeing him from the burden of being England's sole attacking carrier. A back three containing two full-backs, neither of whom are wing-fast, compounds the lack of Cuthbert-style strike speed, and there was a strong case for May and Wade coming in for Ashton and Goode well before the second-half debacle unfolded at the Millennium Stadium.
