After last week’s narrow squeak against Samoa, Borthwick’s team have their backs against the wall and the head coach has gambled with his team. Marcus Smith at 15, Freddie Steward out of the 23, George Ford benched, Henry Arundell ignored and the continual circus around the captain Owen Farrell were the main features of a selection with which Borthwick has nailed his colours to the mast.
But those colours could be taken down by a oneman wrecking machine.
Levani Botia has been the talk of town in the south of France this week and he has the key to the breakdown battle which could decide whether Fiji or England get to the last four of the World Cup.
A former prison officer, Botia is used to locking people up and there should be no release for Steve Borthwick’s line manager, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, if England do not find a tunnel out to the last four. This is as big a game for Sweeney as it for the players as it will put his decision, and more importantly the timing of it, to sack Eddie Jones in the spotlight again and highlight England’s deterioration since reaching the final in 2019.
A place in the semi-finals was the absolute minimum Borthwick’s side should have aspired to when they were handed the softest World Cup draw imaginable after it was pulled out of the hat in December 2020.
This story is from the October 15, 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 15, 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
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.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
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.
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.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
