England under Steve Borthwick are going nowhere, flat and plodding, and desperately need a tactical reboot before next month
did not obviously look like the end of the world. Ireland are the world’s No 1-ranked nation and they were fielding a decent side. England also had to compete for much of the second half with 14 men. Again. But, in truth, it was a mirage. Ireland were never at full throttle and England were mostly as flat and stilted as in their two recent fixtures with Wales.
Whether it is a case of previously good players edging past their best or the global game having bypassed them, England appear to be getting worse rather than better. Oscar Wilde would surely have had something pithy to say about the supposed misfortune of losing Billy Vunipola for a high shoulder to a ball carrier’s head, just a week afterIt leaves England sweating on another supposedly key strut in their grand design for the World Cup next month.
Because whatever England’s vision is meant to be, it is transparently not working. Borthwick’s grand design, brutalist or not, was meant to make England impossible to knock over in the World Cup knockout stages. Instead Argentina must now be clear-ish favourites to win the opening Pool D fixture between the sides in Marseille on 9 September and even unfancied Samoa may be licking their lips.
Steve Borthwick inherited a difficult task when he took over from Eddie Jones but is not getting the best out of England.It really is a sign of the times when Ireland, even without Johnny Sexton, can register five tries without looking as irresistibly slick as usual. From early on a narrow-focused English defence left ominous amounts of space out wide and the visitors’ attack was also painfully pedestrian.
Rectifying the situation will require all of the following: greater forward dynamism, quicker ball and, perhaps most fundamentally, a fresh mindset. As Danny Cipriani correctly noted on social media, English rugby is paying a price for placing too high a premium on structure at the expense of feel. Andy Farrell’s Ireland can go through, over or around you, depending on the situation. England, in contrast, are performing with all the carefree spontaneity of a public service announcement.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Spain v England: World Cup final preview – Women’s Football WeeklyFaye Carruthers has Moyo Abiona, Tim Stillman and legendary Lioness Ellen White alongside her to look ahead to the final
Read more »
Sarina Wiegman urges England to play ‘game of their lives’ in World Cup finalSarina Wiegman and Millie Bright said the Lionesses must play the ‘game of their lives’ against Spain if they are to secure world Cup glory
Read more »
Ireland v England: Rugby World Cup warm-up internationalMinute-by-minute report: Who will come out on top at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin? Join Lee Calvert
Read more »