I didn’t sleep a wink after England’s hammering by France and I hope everybody who actually is keen about our sport was tossing and turning as nicely.
Now’s the time for everybody linked to English rugby to look in the mirror and ask tough questions of themselves about what has happened and the way we are able to guarantee each era of participant is given each likelihood of being profitable on the worldwide stage. I used to be doing that on Saturday night time, therefore the entire lack of sleep.
This is an alarm bell for everyone, not simply the England workforce. For our senior males’s facet to lose 53-10 in a house Six Nations sport is completely unacceptable.
It was England’s worst result at Twickenham. It’s one which is able to dwell with me and, I’m certain, all of the gamers for a very long time.
The defeat was official affirmation English rugby has been going backwards for years and years and that we now have deep-rooted issues to resolve if our nationwide facet is to achieve success.
I didn’t sleep a wink after England’s 53-10 hammering by France at Twickenham on Saturday
For our senior males’s facet to lose 53-10 in a house Six Nations match is completely unacceptable
We’re miles behind the very best groups in Europe. That’s with out even occupied with these within the southern hemisphere.
The very fact England’s Underneath 20 facet was additionally hammered 42-7 by the French on Friday night time additionally confirmed there are issues all through the system.
It might be very simple to be extraordinarily crucial. However I’d slightly attempt to give you options and methods to maneuver ahead.
I see many similarities between the present plight and once I took over as England coach. Again then the gulf between the 2 hemispheres was important. Now it’s groups a lot nearer to residence in Eire, France and Scotland who’re setting the usual.
In 1998, I took a growth England workforce on a tour of the southern hemisphere. It grew to become often called the ‘Tour of Hell’.
We had been overwhelmed 76-0 by Australia in Brisbane. We had been additionally thrashed twice by the All Blacks and overwhelmed by South Africa. It obtained very, very ugly.
Earlier than that tour I realised I did have some gifted gamers at my disposal, however that we had been nowhere close to adequate to succeed on the highest stage.
I imagine that’s the case once more now. England have high quality gamers, however there must be drastic change to the system for the workforce to achieve success once more.
There are two important adjustments which must occur, which mirror two priorities I confronted. Sadly, neither are fast fixes.
The primary is that England want to enhance their velocity, athleticism and health throughout the park.
The French sport confirmed England’s gamers usually are not in the identical league as Les Bleus on the subject of having the bodily capacity to play with tempo and energy.
It was like males towards boys on the breakdown. The French back-row was superior. Their total workforce had been very good involved. They took England to the cleaners.
England had been aggressive at scrum and lineout, however it’s abundantly clear they don’t have the flexibility to dwell with groups like France and Eire within the free.
England usually are not essentially unfit. However they don’t have the rugby health which is required on the prime stage of the sport. They’re merely unable to play the form of sport France can. Which means they can’t dwell with them when they’re at their finest.
Steve Borthwick is bringing his former health guru Aled Walters from Leicester into the England set-up and he may have a big job on his arms. Ideally, he’ll introduce bodily change in the entire nation’s prime gamers throughout the senior and pathway techniques and at Premiership golf equipment, although every participant should take accountability for his personal health.
France had been streets above England with their optimistic strategy and had been sensible to look at
The second change is between the ears. The mindset of tips on how to play the sport have to be completely re-thought. France confirmed that they’ve the person expertise and collective want to assault from anyplace from one to fifteen. They’re sensible to look at.
The circumstances had been terrible on Saturday however nonetheless they saved coming and coming. It was a privilege to witness and inconceivable to cease except you enter the sector with an identical skillset and perspective. France scored seven sensational tries and their joie de vivre was proven to me by Damian Penaud’s brace. Actually sensational rugby.
In contrast, England’s gamers are prototyped to kick and go for a safety-first strategy. That mindset has to completely swap.
I needed to instil an identical mindset change. I bear in mind bodily transferring Paul Grayson and Mike Catt on the coaching paddock to display how flat I needed them receiving the ball. I mentioned: ‘In case you’re not receiving it right here, you’re not enjoying.’
After this outcome folks will rightly ask questions over whether or not England can compete on the World Cup. England can’t fear in regards to the World Cup now. They need to focus completely on and off the pitch on being aggressive with Eire this weekend. Nothing else wants talking about.
One other hammering is fully attainable. This Six Nations has proven that there are actually two divisions.
England are in division two with Wales and Italy.
Eire, France and Scotland are within the prime tier. They’re fitter, stronger and are capable of play with talent that England, Wales and Italy can not match.
English rugby is in massive bother and Steve Borthwick and his workforce having loads of work to do
I see many similarities between the present plight and once I took over as England coach
English rugby is in massive bother. My recommendation to Borthwick — having been in an identical place in 1998 — is to ensure he learns the proper classes and prepares to take some fierce criticism firmly on the chin.
In Borthwick, Nick Evans and Kevin Sinfield, England have a younger teaching workforce. That excites me immeasurably, particularly after seeing what France and Eire have achieved with younger coaches.
I’d urge them to assault the established order that has once more come to outline English rugby.
In the event that they do this, England can transfer ahead. However issues aren’t going to vary with one wave of a magic wand.
