THE class of 2024 staged an England's Got Talent night at their recent training camp-but now Steve Borthwick's men must bring the X Factor to Twickenham.
Leicester double-act Ollie Chessum and Freddie Steward are England's latest answer to Ant and Dec, as the squad's new social secretaries.
The talent show helped a new group of players let off steam as well as form tighter bonds, even if some of the acts "got a bit weird", according to captain Jamie George.
Head coach Borthwick will judge his players all he likes, but the Twickenham crowd will always have the final say.
England were booed off the pitch the last time they played at HQ, in the 30-22 defeat by Fiji in August's final World Cup warm-up match.
Borthwick's side had previously suffered their record Twickenham defeat in last year's Six Nations, being ravaged 53-10 by France in March.
Go back to the end of 2022, and home defeats by Argentina and South Africa cost Eddie Jones his job. England's fans could not identify with their team, and the Red Rose men did not even recognise themselves, either.
Borthwick's side exorcised some demons by gaining revenge over both Argentina and Fiji at the World Cup, then so nearly toppled eventual champions South Africa in the semi-finals.
Denne historien er fra February 09, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 09, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why are England wasting time waiting for Tuchel?
Winning the World Cup is the aim, so the new boss should start now
He's been shot, and punched by Mike Tyson, but British boxing's great survivor is back on top and aiming to rule the world
This is where the magic happens,\" reads a big neon sign scrawled across the entrance to the offices of arguably the most powerful man in British boxing today.
How Sketch went from 'obscene' to era-defining
After arocky start, the glamorous and infamous restaurant is now an institution
Money is worth less than time'
He's quit Fendi, but what will Kim Jones do next?
London's Roman Amphitheatre
Guildhall Yard, EC2V
Liberals didn't notice they'd lost relevance in the all-consuming digital sphere
There are many reasons why Donald Trump might have won the election last week.
Do we have to die?
One neuroscientist thinks the answer is no
How to have a magical Christmas in Edinburgh
From cosy cobblestone streets to abundant Yuletide goings-on, few cities rival the Scottish capital in creating Christmas whimsy.
London's best festive restaurants
The social season is upon us once more. These are the city’s most coveted Christmas venues, which need to be booked soon so as to not miss out on the tinsel and tipples.
Rag'n'Bone Man
I struggle with being recognised... I'll never really feel comfortable with it'
