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Steve Borthwick confronts the question many England fans are asking
By Josh Raisey
England head coach Steve Borthwick has admitted that his side “don’t necessarily want to play” the way they did in their 16-15 Guinness Six Nations victory over Scotland, but has insisted the team are “evolving”.
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Despite only scoring one try to Scotland’s three at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, England found a way to win by a one-point margin for the second match in a row after a year of performances where they were making a habit of falling on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
But in the wake of the victory, many England fans have questioned their style of play, with former captain Will Carling describing the kick-heavy win as “very ugly” on X. Ex-England fly-half Andy Goode even said that he thinks the side are being “held back” currently. “Great to get the win for England,” he wrote on X. “I genuinely think there’s an exciting team in that squad being held back by Steve Borthwick and the inexperienced coaching team.”
Borthwick has however asserted that Scotland brought the perfect gameplan to disrupt England, and only needed to highlight their round two bonus-point victory over France as an example of the attacking capabilities England have.
“I’d suggest in the previous game we played very, very well,” he said after the match. “Pretty good attack, scored four tries against France.
“Today, Scotland brought a very, very smart tactical plan. The way to set-up to play against England, generally, is to play limited phase and put the kick on to England and ultimately in the first half they had the ascendency but in the second half the players gradually figured it out and found different ways to get an advantage and got up on the scoreboard.
“These are good teams we’re playing against. There are two teams out there and we are really respectful of the opposition. There are times where you’re in the ascendency and there are times where they are and you have to maximise your opportunities and minimise theirs.
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“Each of these games has been very different. What pleases me is I think the team’s evolving. We don’t necessarily want to play the way we played today. We want the ball in hand, we want to move the ball. We’ve got a whole lot of creative talent. But Scotland are trying to stop you from doing that, and they did it really well. But we found a way to win and we’ll make sure we’re better for this experience.”
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Talking about the Irish disrespecting Wales , that did not come from players or supporters, it comes from Media with nothing else to say. Generally Irish supporters are quite humble not arrogant. A few Journos don't represent us.
It's on ious but If Scotland had someone else kicking they'd have won. Finn Russell has days like that, need to have plan B.
Who on earth gave out the ‘Man of the Match’ in England’s game against Scotland ?! Scotland’s South African wing was possibly 4th in my book ! Did the person giving out the award turn a blind eye the then obvious man of the match? Easily BEN EARL to anybody who knows our sport. On another matter……. during Eddie’s realm he constantly used the word “Building” now we have “Evolving” Mr. from Borthwick. Are they using the same script-writer ? Nice enough bloke ( and he did play for England and I didn’t ! ) but come on Steve….. a bit more enterprise if you plan on staying.
Interesting use of the word “Evolving”.
This England side are forged in Borthwicks own image, dull, monosyllabic, and lacking the innovation or guile to change.
The try tally and the fact that a player on the losing side won MOM tells its own sorry tale.
Borthwick!!……Borefest.
England won
I must be literally the only England fan who is happy when England win. Of course England are evolving - they are evolving from a team who never win to a team who often win.
You’re just so dull and dreary this would excite you.
Lol. “Literally” Fin. Tell us about Smith at fullback again.
Wouldn't say you're the only one. I'm happy when England win to, extremely happy and there's plenty of positives, being able to close out matches and the emergence of Fin Smith at 10!
I think people are just irritated by SB, he says he wants the team to play attacking and exciting rugby and goes on about the creative players. Which when we get the likes of Fin on the ball seems to really start to click, yet the game plan always seems to be kick heavy. It's like he says one thing but instructs another.
Bored of SB and getting bored of watching England.
His platitudes about England playing exciting attacking rugby and players being encouraged to express themself are really starting to grate, when they're clearly under orders to kick literally every time they get the ball.
They’ve actually regressed into an even more conservative style than when they played at the World Cup. After which there looked a spark until Felix Jones got so bored he went on garden leave. And now they’ve gone back to boring again.
Baldpricke must surely be accused of killing English rugby soon. Where is that foghorn leghorn Clive Woodward? Has he given up punditry? You’d imagine he’d be convulsing watching this English team play. Where is he when you actually need him?
It’s the same as his days as England captain; sound bites and defending poor performances
We were on the right side of another tight game yesterday but my god we made hard work of it.
What a boring rugby England is playing !!
I’ve recorded the game. And will watch it when I have another flair up of insomnia. I must just beware of overdoing it and becoming comatose.