Steve Borthwick’s team are in crisis after becoming the first England team to lose to Fiji – and deservedly so because the Fijians were so much sharper in thought and deed that they fully merited this historic victory at Twickenham.
England are playing not just like a team that is drowning, but one that is buried 20,000 leagues under the sea. They are ghostly shadows of the players they should be, and could not muster enough defensive intensity, cohesion, or accuracy to turn captain Courtney Lawes’ great achievement of reaching 100 caps into a celebration.
Instead, it was Fiji who were jumping for joy at the final whistle of this last World Cup warm-up international after scoring three second-half tries to leave England playing catch-up.
England’s defensive problems have become chronic, and a team with Fiji’s athleticism and flair was always likely to ruthlessly expose any shortcomings – and there was a shedload.
England fell off tackles, missing 27 in this game, and have now leaked 23 tries in six games. Afterwards head coach Borthwick commented: “Ultimately, our defence wasn’t good enough, and when they scored, they scored too easily”.
The difficulty is that this has needed fixing for the eight months Borthwick has been in charge, and it is getting worse rather than better, and defence coach Kevin Sinfield is struggling to find a solution.
This is mind-boggling considering that Borthwick has some of the most experienced players to ever pull on the Red Rose shirt in his squad, and it makes you wonder what input they have into England’s structure and strategy.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin August 27, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin August 27, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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.
