“For me, England seem a bit rudderless, at the moment.”
The after-glow of reaching a World Cup semi-final lasted up until Saturday, February 24 at around 6:35pm. England were slowly, slowly building something until Duhan van der Merwe and Scotland sent the blocks skittling at Murrayfield.
The English are now facing into a visit from an imposing Ireland team, and former captain Lawrence Dallaglio has likened the match into a burglar coming into the house to swag some precious items. Stuart Barnes wants back-row Ben Earl tried out at inside centre while Andy Goode, another former England star, wants EIGHT changes to the starting XV for Ireland.
Goode, writing on Rugbypass, selected an England team that had no Elliott Daly, Maro Itoje or George Ford but included Chandler Cunningham-South, Zach Mercer, Marcus Smith, Alex Mitchell, Caden Murley, George Martin and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The thin blue line between ‘we’re building something here’ and all out ‘major changes needed’ hysteria is teetering. If Borthwick’s England lose to Ireland at RFU headquarters, that line will be trampled all over.
On the latest House of Rugby, Johne Murphy and Lindsay Peat [from 36:20 below] discussed the current problems England face, pressure from pundits and the media, and what Ireland can expect at Twickenham on March 9.
Former Ireland stars on “chirping” England
Regular rugby viewers that catch a lot of Premiership rugby will struggle to add up how that league looks so exciting and serves up so many thrillers, while their Test team only ever seem to do well when it is muck and bullets. Exeter and Harlequins light up domestic and European games, yet many of their best players seem straitened when they pull on an England jersey.
Johne Murphy believes England were ‘architects of their own downfall’ against Scotland, after making a solid start in those first 15 minutes in Edinburgh. “Their basic catch-pass was so poor for that final 60 minutes that you didn’t know what they were doing,” he said.
Murphy played for many years with Leicester Tigers and knows, full well, about the increased scrutiny that comes with poor results for the national team.
“With the English rugby fraternity – from having played over there, and chatting to guys over there – it hasn’t been a good run for Steve Borthwick. Yes, he made a World Cup semi-final and was within a couple of minutes of winning (against South Africa). Was that down to conditions and the draw? I would say yes. But they still look rudderless. The English public are not necessarily that patient. They are not as bad as the French! England have to nail their colours to the mast… it’s all well known, and okay, with the blitz defence but their attack? They look lost.”
Lindsay Peat believes England are left ‘playing for pride’ in the Six Nations, even though they were chasing a Grand Slam until Scotland popped that balloon. “Just decide on what you are playing,” the former Ireland prop said. “If you’re going for a kicking game, go for the personnel that will help you. If you’re going to play this expansive rugby that you’re – let’s be honest – chirping on about, put your money where your mouth is. Pick the players that will play that for you, and trust them.”
For Murphy, England look ‘half okay’ as they sit between a style of play they have, and one they would like to have. Going up against Ireland and France, they need to commit, shut out the noise and get that full buy-in.
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