Hugh Godwin will be present at every England Six Nations match, delivering in-depth coverage of the tournament – you can subscribe to stay updated here.
England’s rugby team is currently feeling a sense of injustice, but it’s high time they shift their focus from lamenting the criticisms of others to making bold promises and, most importantly, delivering on them. This Sunday at Twickenham, against Italy, we want to see our players – your players – exhibit confidence in their skills and in one another. When an opportunity to attack arises, they must demonstrate that they possess both the talent and self-assurance to seize it.
Historically, England has never suffered defeat against Italy, and while this upcoming Six Nations match should not be taken for granted, a decisive performance could silence the critics and alleviate the pressure on coach Steve Borthwick and his squad.
England’s frustrations were particularly palpable last Thursday in York, where vice-captain Ellis Genge voiced his confusion regarding the backlash following victories over France and Scotland in the second and third rounds of the Six Nations (the tournament had commenced with a 27-22 defeat in Ireland). Genge’s main point was that England had finally managed to secure wins after a long streak of close losses, so why were fans, pundits, and former players still unhappy?
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Genge further articulated that Test rugby is vastly different from the “mental rugby” players experience in the Premiership. There are several facets to explore here. One significant aspect was the booing that echoed around Twickenham during the narrow 16-15 victory over Scotland just ten days ago. In a venue that has seen £100 million in sponsorship from Allianz, advertising is ubiquitous, and ticket prices for top matches exceed £200. This raises the question: is the customer always right?
In my extensive experience at Twickenham, the fans have shown a willingness to support the team, ready to sing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” at the slightest indication of improvement. The discontent was specifically directed at England’s tendency to kick the ball away, even when other attacking options were available. Perhaps Genge could take the crowd’s reaction as a back-handed compliment – the vast majority of the 82,000 spectators expect more from England than scraping by with a single-point victory or failing to perform at home against formidable teams like New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa in recent months.
This season, watching England at Twickenham has certainly not been boring; on the contrary, the November match against Australia was a rollercoaster ride, with England initially leading by 12 points before trailing by two at halftime, only to regain the lead, ultimately suffering a heartbreaking 42-37 defeat.
“Would you rather be a part of a team that loses every single week, 40 points to 39?” Genge posed. “I understand from a fans’ perspective… you want to see us coming through with back-door offloads and no-look chip-and-chase. But that doesn’t win Test matches.”
While Genge makes a valid point, one must respectfully disagree. Yes, club rugby differs from Test rugby, yet Genge and England assistant coach Kevin Sinfield referenced the more open style commonly displayed in the Premiership, alongside the recent drubbings experienced by teams like Leicester in Toulouse, and the lack of dominance from any single team in domestic competitions. This suggests that Borthwick and his coaching staff need to galvanize the England players and perhaps establish a foundational game plan that proves effective. So why not demand more from them and communicate this intent to the public?
This does not imply the tooth-grinding public relations approach practiced at Twickenham when two presenters rush onto the big screens post-defeat and proclaim, “What a great match!” Instead, it suggests a more collaborative effort where Borthwick could take a leaf out of the books of predecessors like Clive Woodward and Stuart Lancaster by offering the media insights on forward planning.
During the autumn, Borthwick mentioned the players’ conditioning not being up to standard – so why not provide us with the details that would help us understand his perspective? While reporters received a brief glimpse into training in Spain last October, and one newspaper was granted extended access, this kind of transparency is beneficial in generating interest and fostering a sense of “buy-in” from the public.
Genge believes that England faces more unfair criticism compared to other national teams, crossing over into other sports like football and cricket. This topic has been debated for years, and it’s worth noting that in rugby, England boasts the wealthiest union (as the RFU is currently keen to remind us) and a vast pool of players.
In The i Paper, we have consistently highlighted that Borthwick is working without several key players who have recently retired or moved to French clubs. However, this is a nuanced issue, as there is still a considerable amount of talent available, and the decision to exclude those playing in France has been made by both the clubs and the RFU.
The concerns raised by former players like Toby Flood in these discussions are rarely devoid of nuance. Flood, along with fellow former England stars Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall, has acknowledged the moments of brilliance, such as Ollie Lawrence’s line break against the Scots. Yet, they express a growing skepticism regarding Borthwick’s ability to implement a more comprehensive game plan.
Italy recently endured a crushing 73-24 defeat against France in Rome, struggling particularly in their maul defense, which means we can expect England to target the corners for tries on Sunday. This strategy is perfectly acceptable; the Twickenham crowd is not demanding a Barbarians-style flair when a straightforward tactic is available. They will undoubtedly cheer for a powerful push from players like Luke Cowan-Dickie or Jamie George as they drive over the try line.
However, what the crowd also desires from England’s midfield trio of Fin Smith, Lawrence, and Henry Slade (if they remain unchanged) is the kind of first-phase or multi-phase tries that Italy’s Paolo Garbisi, Tommaso Menoncello, and Nacho Brex demonstrated against the French, characterized by quick handling and seamless support play. If Tommy Freeman is viewed as the future at outside centre, it’s time to involve him in the action. Don’t leave the electrifying Ollie Sleightholme without a chance to shine on the wing; explore ways to engage him. Pass the ball swiftly without the looming fear that risk-taking will overshadow potential rewards.
Ultimately, this is about swagger and self-belief – traits that Genge himself often embodies. It is time for Borthwick’s England to lay these qualities on the table and showcase them consistently from this point forward.
