Stick 60 points on Eddie Jones’ outfit and it will be a big, fat ‘so what’ from many fans, paying through the nose at the newly renamed national stadium, and observers who have had enough of the ‘we’ll get better’ culture. Hold on to finally get a narrow win and it will spark another inquest after a month of inquests.
Do the unthinkable and lose to the world’s 13th ranked team and all bets are off over the future of Borthwick, his coaching team and some of the RFU hierarchy who appointed them. But that won’t happen, will it?
No, but even a comfortable win with head coach Borthwick’s side running in tries until the 80th minute will not get rid of the sense of disappointment surrounding this autumn campaign.
November has seen England lose narrow games against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa when three out of four wins, including one over Japan today, was probably par for the course.
Borthwick had credit in the bank after the summer tour, which featured close defeats to the All Blacks in Dunedin and Auckland and opened with a 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo. Since then though, defensive mastermind Felix Jones and strength and conditioning head Aled Walters, plus Tom Tombleson, have left and it has showed in the last month.
Borthwick has brought players through this year after the mass retirements and defections to France and today is the day to show some progress.
George Furbank is restored at full-back, in an all-Northampton back three, alongside Ollie Sleightholme and Tommy Freeman and the Saints have to bring their club attacking game, moulded by Sam Vesty, to the Test stage.
Denne historien er fra November 24, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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 November 24, 2024-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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
England can find a little bit of cheer
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.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
