The most marked aspect is in the way they are playing, especially when you consider where they were when Eddie Jones left Twickenham almost two years ago.
The limbo then, with players coming and going, was reminiscent of the England low points in the 1980s and the mid-late 2000s – and I hated the way that England were playing, and wasn’t all that interested in watching them.
Following that, the 2023 World Cup was a holding operation, and getting to the semi-finals was a job well done considering how badly the team played in the World Cup warm-ups.
The progress since then has not all been smooth, especially the early games in this year’s Six Nations, but the win over Ireland and narrow loss to France was a watershed in England’s approach – and it continued in New Zealand.
The overall level of England’s performance in the two Tests against the All Blacks was for me a 7.5 or 8/10. They were competitive, and good to watch, and I enjoyed a lot of what I saw, and was not overly annoyed that they didn’t take all their chances. These tours provide an opportunity to learn, and to grow, and this England squad should bank the experience and be better for it despite the disappointment of losing both Tests by small margins.
If England had played New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup there would only have been one winner, with the All Blacks probably 20 points or more better, especially in good conditions. Almost a year later England have played well and been competitive against New Zealand in an away summer series, and now they know that if they improve further they have a good chance of beating the All Blacks at Twickenham in the first of the autumn Tests.
It is now about Borthwick’s team evolving and growing, and getting on with it rather than thinking that it might be better if the NZ match was at the end of the autumn series.
Esta historia es de la edición July 21, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 21, 2024 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.