Here's my England squad for Six Nations
The Rugby Paper|December 24, 2023
THERE will have been times when the honeymoon period predicted for Steve Borthwick’s first year as England coach after succeeding Eddie Jones must have felt more like the War of the Roses.
NICK CAIN
Here's my England squad for Six Nations

The basis of the honeymoon concept was that the handover from Jones involved a team that was so broken – both as a credible top-tier nation and in its sundered relationship with the supporters – that the only way was up.

That’s not how it turned out. Borthwick’s message that he had inherited a team “which weren’t good at anything” turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy as they slumped to new lows in the Six Nations, losing by a record score to France, and then bombed in the World Cup warm-ups, including losing to Fiji at Twickenham.

After England scuffed their way through the weakest pool in the tournament unbeaten and then secured a narrow quarter-final victory over Fiji, they finally raised a gallop against South Africa – and might have pulled off a huge semi-final upset but for another scrum collapse.

The decision by Borthwick to bench his veteran starting props, Dan Cole and Joe Marler, going into the final quarter turned into a self-inflicted wound as South Africa squeezed their replacements, Kyle Sinckler and Ellis Genge, to such an extent that the penalties they conceded saw the Springboks edge home.

It is why selection of this best Red Rose line-up for the 2024 Six Nations starts with the front row, where England’s succession plan is a mess. Borthwick needs to put it right rapidly, establishing a short-term plan, and a medium-term pecking order.

For the moment his two best international props are Marler, 33, and Cole, 36, and I advocated both in print and on podcasts that they should have been his starting duo throughout the World Cup.

They should be asked to hold the fort this season, or until the next best props prove their credentials. Their bench understudies should be Beno Obano at loosehead, and either Ehren Painter or Will Collier at tighthead.

この記事は The Rugby Paper の December 24, 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Rugby Paper の December 24, 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE RUGBY PAPERのその他の記事すべて表示
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
The Rugby Paper

Dramatic late win boosts leaders

A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
England need to be more consistent
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
4 分  |
November 10, 2024
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
The Rugby Paper

Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions

TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
1 min  |
November 10, 2024
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
2 分  |
November 10, 2024
When value for money is not part of the deal
The Rugby Paper

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.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
The Rugby Paper

'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.

time-read
3 分  |
November 10, 2024