England’s wins in the pool stage of the 2023 World Cup gave them some momentum, especially the backsto-the-wall victory over Argentina. However, even though they always had a good chance of getting to the semi-finals – and achieved it after a one-point win over Samoa, and a narrow quarter-final victory over Fiji – England did very well to come so close to reaching another final.
I’m interested in where they go now, with the 2024 Six Nations so close. Steve Borthwick is very unlikely to just wipe the slate clean and start again, because the head coach and Owen Farrell have a strong connection.
I don’t believe it is a broad enough game to bring consistent success, but you also have to ask who can take over from Farrell at fly-half at the moment. Farrell is now 32, but while he is in the squad, and captain, Borthwick is bound to pick him – although I would be pleasantly surprised if he went for a wider strategy.
This would entail Borthwick thanking Farrell for what he has achieved, but saying that he needs to change the culture. To be fair to Owen, people wrongly point the finger at him, because often he can only play as well as the England pack allows him to – and these forwards do not regularly have the same physical impact as their counterparts for South Africa, New Zealand, France, and Ireland.
All the New Zealand forwards can pass and carry, whereas Dan Cole did not touch the ball in the entire semi-final. However, Cole and Joe Marler did a good job at the scrum against South Africa, Maro Itoje also showed up, George Martin did well, and Ollie Chessum and his younger brother are both coming through.
This story is from the October 29, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 29, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.