Friday 5 February 2016 17:09, UK
Dean Ryan says that England's experienced players have to perform against Scotland in their Six Nations opener on Saturday.
New England coach Eddie Jones has named an experienced line-up to face Scotland in Edinburgh, keeping his uncapped trio of Jack Clifford, Paul Hill and Ollie Devoto on the bench.
Worcester coach Dean Ryan backs the selection of England's senior players but says that Jones will have no problem dropping them if they do not perform.
"The first thing England want to do is win," said Ryan on the Rugby Club Agenda.
"A Calcutta Cup game, away at Murrayfield, means that there is going to be huge pressure and experience is going to be key.
"Jones has said that if you are a senior player in this squad, then you need to play well. If you are not playing well, then he will replace them quickly. He has picked on experience but he is not going to hang around if form does not come with it. There is no room for sentiment."
England will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing World Cup campaign and all eyes will be on the two areas that haunted former coach Stuart Lancaster for 18 months - centre and the No 7 jersey.
"He [Jones] has picked Owen Farrell in the centre for this particular game which gives them a different dynamic on how they are going to play," added Ryan.
"But he has Ollie Devoto on the bench and it would not surprise me if they tinker tactically to bring him on.
"Jones has also picked James Haskell, who has played at No 7 before, but he has Jack Clifford to potentially come on and solve those back-row problems."
Direction
Ryan is pleased that Jones has not gone and thrown 10 debutants into the England starting XV, but is interested to see how he integrates the new boys into the team.
"I think the defining direction for England will be over the next few weeks to see how he integrates some of those youngsters," said Ryan.
"If England win, then the integration of younger players becomes so much easier. If England don't win, then you are in danger of panic selection off the back of a loss."
While England fans are excited about a new era of rugby under Jones, Ryan says that they face a tough task against Scotland.
Jones has picked on experience but he is not going to hang around if form does not come with it. There is no room for sentiment.
"Scotland v England games are huge. Scotland are starting to select quite a consistent group and there is some optimism around their performances," he added.
"I like the selection of John Barclay and John Hardie - Vern Cotter clearly sees the breakdown as an area he can go after England."
