Six Nations: England defence shift follows trend – Alex Sanderson

Sale coach Alex Sanderson says most coaches find an all-out blitz defence is too easily unpicked after it was reported that England will ditch the tactic for the Six Nations.

England’s ultra-aggressive line speed on their summer tour of New Zealand restricted the All Blacks to four tries in their two Tests.

However, defence coach Felix Jones departed shortly after and England were more porous in the autumn, conceding an average of four tries a game in their defeats by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

The Daily Mail report, external that Jones’ successor, Joe El-Abd, will use a pre-tournament training camp in Girona to change their tactics, with tacklers adopting a more cautious, but coordinated approach.

Sanderson ran Saracens’ defence before taking the top job at Sale, who conceded the joint fewest tries in last season’s Premiership.

“I think even South Africa, who were known for it, have come off it a little bit,” he said of the world champions’ commitment to blitzing attacks.