It only took 137 days for someone in the Red Rose group to admit the glaringly obvious.
The first England players to form a World Cup camp assembled on June 12 at Pennyhill Park, in what now feels like an eon ago.
Almost five months later in the bowels of the Stade de France, in the middle of the night after England’s 26-23 third-place play-off win over Argentina, hooker George delivered the most candid assessment yet of Steve Borthwick’s Red Rose tenure.
There was method in the head coach’s miserly public pronouncements across a high-pressure 10-month World Cup preparation period.
The former Leicester boss had to start from scratch, inheriting Eddie Jones’ bin-fire Test set-up and tasked with dousing flame after flame.
A simple gameplan was all England had time for at this World Cup, and Borthwick said as much from the start.
The ultra-measured boss has staunchly refused to drop any hint on what will come next, however, including in terms of playing style.
This story is from the October 30, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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 30, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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
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'
