England can find a little bit of cheer
The Rugby Paper|November 24, 2024
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
JEFF PROBYN
England can find a little bit of cheer

It is the last game of the year for the England team, against an opposition who are number 13th in the world rankings, six places lower than England, and if all assumptions are correct, this should at last be the win the disappointed home crowd have been waiting for.

Over the past three weeks we have been told that England had turned a corner and were on the right path to a winning team, yet they have failed to achieve a single winning result despite them leading all three matches going into the final stages in each game only to be overtaken in the dying minutes.

However, today should be the game that England win with ease, having won 52-17 in Japan this summer, although Borthwick may have some concerns facing his old boss Eddie Jones, below, who will have an idea of the game that England propose to play and how to possibly disrupt it.

Even so, the standard of competition that our players are more used to is much higher than that faced by Japanese players, making the result of this game pretty much a guaranteed win for England at last.

Comments made by some of the players regarding Jones’ style of coaching is of no surprise, as all coaches have a power over the emotions of their players with those who are dropped or criticised feeling very defensive.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE RUGBY PAPERView all
A humble hero who had a big heart ...
The Rugby Paper

A humble hero who had a big heart ...

A DARK cloud of sorrow has been hovering above St Thomas’ Church at the east end of Swansea this Christmas over the loss of one of its most beloved disciples, Geoff Wheel.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Firefighter Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins
The Rugby Paper

Firefighter Konkel turning the heat up for Harlequins

FIREFIGHTER Jade Konkel has ignited a Harlequins title charge following a run of miserable successive seasons for the 2020/21 winners.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Quins finish year at the top of the pile
The Rugby Paper

Quins finish year at the top of the pile

HARLEQUINS went top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby with victory in Big Game 16 at the Allianz Stadium.

time-read
1 min  |
December 29, 2024
Pirates are on course to make it five in a row
The Rugby Paper

Pirates are on course to make it five in a row

CORNISH Pirates are riding a wave of momentum looking for their fifth consecutive Championship win when they visit strugglers Ampthill today.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Nottingham take their chances to silence Cov
The Rugby Paper

Nottingham take their chances to silence Cov

A THRILLING display of high-tempo attacking rugby in which wingers Ryan Olowofela and David Williams played prominent roles earned Nottingham a bonus-point success over Midlands rivals Coventry.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Itoje: Life's taken turn for the better under Borthwick
The Rugby Paper

Itoje: Life's taken turn for the better under Borthwick

ENGLAND and Saracens lock Maro Itoje has claimed that the ‘atmosphere and experience’ of playing for the national team has improved under Steve Borthwick compared to life under former head coach Eddie Jones, adding that some of the practices Jones employed to get the best out of his players were ‘unnecessary’.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Varndell: Lam has put flair into Bears
The Rugby Paper

Varndell: Lam has put flair into Bears

WHEN it comes to scoring tries in Premiership Rugby, few players have struck fear into opposition defences quite like Tom Varndell.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Let's hope Brizball can stay in fashion
The Rugby Paper

Let's hope Brizball can stay in fashion

THIS is not obviously the time to be talking balls – the Twickenham elite have cornered that particular market – but the question demands to be asked: is Brizball the union game’s version of Bazball?

time-read
3 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Roots looking to find his old form
The Rugby Paper

Roots looking to find his old form

ETHAN Roots started 2024 with a bang, man of the match in Italy on his England debut, but his year ended with more of a splutter.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 29, 2024
Dragons still can't get better of Cardiff
The Rugby Paper

Dragons still can't get better of Cardiff

DRAGONS’ nightmare run against their fiercest rivals continued as they fell to their 19th consecutive defeat, having not beaten them since Boxing Day 2014.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 29, 2024