1 week ago
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After the extraordinary 42-37 decision by Australia, Steve Borthwick's triumph grounds arsenic England caput manager stands astatine precisely 50%, with 13 wins from his 26 matches successful charge.
It is simply a middling grounds which stacks up unfavourably compared to his 2 predecessors, Eddie Jones (73%) and Stuart Lancaster (61%).
But determination is discourse to add. Borthwick is rebuilding the squad aft relying connected an experienced halfway of players astatine the Rugby World Cup past year.
The likes of Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes, Manu Tuilagi, Billy Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Ben Youngs, Danny Care and Jonny May - mainstays of the past decennary - are nary longer available. Any rebuild takes time.
And portion England person mislaid 5 of their past six matches, each of those defeats person been against top-level absorption and each person travel down to a azygous score.
These are the caveats that explicate wherefore Borthwick retains the afloat enactment of the Rugby Football Union. As acold arsenic the RFU is concerned, Borthwick is successful for the agelong haul and was precocious handed much power than immoderate England caput manager earlier him.
However, the capitulation astatine the hands of the Wallabies volition person tried the patience of adjacent the astir loyal England fans. It was England's sixth nonaccomplishment successful 10 matches successful 2024. They are present down to seventh successful the satellite rankings.
In the contiguous aftermath of Saturday's game, captain Jamie George spoke of the "external noise" that would travel the decision and the request for the squad to "stay choky and support believing".
With the treble satellite champions South Africa rolling into municipality adjacent week, however Borthwick and England respond volition beryllium critical.
England's 2 connection victories nether Borthwick - Argentina astatine the World Cup and Ireland successful the Six Nations - some came with the broadside written off. They volition again beryllium underdogs against the Springboks, yet determination is inactive each accidental England tin propulsion them close.
But determination is plentifulness to fix. While the defence looked successful bully nick against New Zealand, it was markedly porous against the Wallabies.
Borthwick pointed to his side's escaped ball-handling and interaction skills arsenic a crushed why, but the changeless flux successful the backroom squad - thing Borthwick would person been hopeless to debar - cannot beryllium helpful.
England person had 3 antithetic defence coaches successful the past 12 months, with Joe el-Abd taking implicit astatine the extremity of September. None of this was portion of Borthwick's plan.
While George insisted England's tactical program is clear, the squad inactive looks caught betwixt 2 identities.
Marcus Smith has started England's past 5 games - and was fantabulous against Australia - but plays successful a antithetic mode to the much experienced George Ford, who was Borthwick's antheral done the Six Nations and whitethorn good person started connected the summertime circuit of the New Zealand if helium had been fit.
Stylistically, the squad switched from a kick-first gameplan astatine the World Cup to a much expansive attack during the spring, but the antheral astatine the bosom of that gyration - scrum-half Alex Mitchell - has missed the 2 autumn openers.
Borthwick has enactment his religion successful Smith, but lone up to a point, bringing Ford connected successful the last 4th successful some games this November successful an effort to adjacent the games out.
Boos rang astir the Allianz Stadium erstwhile it looked similar Smith was being taken disconnected against the Wallabies - helium was really moved to full-back - and fig 8 Ben Earl admitted afterwards England were investigating the patience of the supporters.
The 2 Test matches this period person been excruciatingly close; England person been the width of a station and a fumbled kick-off distant from winning some games.
But those are the margins astatine the highest level, and determination is nary coincidence the champion sides successful the satellite negociate to get implicit the enactment successful akin circumstances.
And portion England are not flush with caps, determination is inactive capable acquisition successful the set-up. Supporters volition rapidly tyre of speech of learning lessons if the lessons are not being learned.
It was telling Borthwick took connected a precise antithetic code successful his interviews aft the Australia decision compared to a week prior.
Last play helium praised his broadside and stressed the prime of the All Blacks; this clip helium was visibly aggravated astatine his side's inaccuracy and mediocre decision-making, arsenic England were hooked into a escaped crippled that played into Australia's hands.
With South Africa tuning up for Twickenham by battling past Scotland, Borthwick volition cognize much than anyone however overmuch amended England volition person to beryllium if they are to vie with the champion squad successful the satellite and lighten the temper astir Twickenham.
English (US)