- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
England are in trouble. If you were watching the game on Sky Sports then you would’ve agreed with Stuart Barnes’ description of the game: the scoreline flattered England immensely.
They were under pressure before this weekend’s game against the Springboks, but now questions have to be asked whether the right selections and strategies have been put in place before the World Cup.
The South Africans have by far the worst backline out of the big three (South Africa, Australia and New Zealand), but even they make the English backs look average.
There’s just no spark in England’s ranks. It’s so disappointing – the English promise so much but seem to produce very little. When playing England, you get the feel that you are up against 15 forwards. They seem to have no clue how to penetrate the opposition’s defence in general play, relying on well-rehearsed rolling mauls, bulk and power to get over the gain line.
The English fans deserve better. Years of losses against the world’s top teams is just not good enough. Sure, applied pressure and playing the percentages may have worked well for them in the early 2000s, but that was a long time ago.
I happened to be standing next to two 15-year-old English fans during the game, they were as passionate as you can imagine, but it’s shocking to think they were only 4 when their country became the first northern hemisphere side to lift the William Web Ellis trophy.
Before their second half ‘comeback’, sparked by a Dave Wilson score after a questionable lineout call against Bryan Habana, the English were well beaten.
Player for player, they just don’t front up. Owen Farrell is nowhere near the class of other northern hemisphere flyhalves like Jonathan Sexton. Farrell’s substitution in the 64th minute, was long overdue.
The English forwards are gifted with a lot of power and technical prowess but lack the ability to disrupt the breakdown like their Irish counterparts.
Another issue is coaching. They really need something there. Crabbing from one side of the field to the other is not an expansive game plan. Condensing the defence only to let a big, slow forward take the gap defeats the point of the strategy altogether.
I just wonder when England will swallow their pride and employ a rugby ‘brain’ from the southern hemisphere? Until that happens, their fans can look forward to pain.
With the world’s biggest player base, a wealth of coaching infrastructure and world-class training facilities, there is something really off with this team.
It’s time to start pointing fingers, digging deep, and deciding that being the fifth, possibly the sixth-best team in the world is just not good enough.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.