Also suggesting exactly what I was told. Borthwick is the pick. Would like Razor because I think it would be a severe change in RFU ethos, but looks like we’re getting Scabnose.
Unfortunately it looks like there’ll be about 2000 runs scored between both sides, one of the least balanced pitches ever.
Following a review of the @autumnnations, Eddie Jones has been dismissed as England men’s head coach. The RFU will conclude coach succession planning in the near future. Read the full RFU statement here 👉 https://t.co/eyoWDAb6kd pic.twitter.com/QwiCg4vkci— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) December 6, 2022 Now confirmed
Apparnrtly they haven’t formally approached Borthwick or anyone else yet. Some rumours they might announce a new rule that formally commits all future hirings to English/British contenders.
If Eddie Jones gets sacked it would have to be the silliest thing they could do to the English rugby team. He plans & plans & plans years in advance for this competition. It’s the one competition that he has got consistently right time and time again. Big mistake imo 🤯🤷🏼♂️— Matt Giteau 🇦🇺 (@giteau_rugby) December 6, 2022 I think Giteau has a point. Jones has a good track record at World Cups. If they were going to dismiss him why not after the poor Six Nation performances instead of less than 12 months before the global tournament? I wouldn't mind if they'd have replaced him with a proven operator like Gatland but seems they were too slow and outmaneuvered. Scott 'Razor' Robertson is elite also. However that won't be possible if they're going to limit their options to English coaches as Fireburn suggests. Despite what Wales and (Schmidt, Farrell) Ireland have achieved over the last 20 years or so with overseas hires. Instead it is going to be an inexperienced Borthwick who will have about half a dozen games over a few months to prepare for the big event. Sadly I wouldn't be surprised to see England eliminated by Wales in the quarter-final next year. On top of what happened to Wasps & Worcester this is more evidence that the RFU are an incompetent organisation imo. And if form doesn't improve in 2023 it shouldn't just be Jones leaving. 🌹 Win rate of last six England coaches:Sir Clive Woodward - 71%Andy Robinson - 41%Brian Ashton - 55%Martin Johnson - 53%Stuart Lancaster - 61%Eddie Jones - 73% 🇦🇺 https://t.co/baUzM0uyrz— Henry Clark (@HenryWAClark) December 5, 2022 Eddie Jones coached England to their only Grand Slam in the last 20 years since Woodward. Won three of our four (Martin Johnson coached 2011 winners) Six Nations titles since 2003 under him also. There was a World Cup final of course and a very competitive record against the southern hemisphere teams. Some good times.
Australia are inconsistent enough at the moment that Wales could beat them in the group stage. Could easily see England v Australia in the quarters if one fails to win their group.
It's difficult to say really. In terms of overall player quality, there's still quite a few gaps in the team. Player for player they don't stack up against the best teams from recent history, but Stokes appears to have exceptional instincts and judgement as a captain. McCullum was similar, and has taken that into the coaching. Bairstow and Root were both flying during the first half of the year, and Anderson is just Anderson. Openers are a worry, but Duckett looks to have settled in well, and Harry Brook is a genuine exciting talent. Keeping Wood fit and getting Archer back is going to be important, and Rehan Ahmed looks like as good a spin prospect as we've had in decades. What they are doing is playing far more aggressively in every game then other teams have done, and it's giving them the opportunity to win matches that otherwise would have petered out into draws. The first test in Pakistan was on a pitch that would never normally see a result, but the rate at which England scored gave them the time needed to bowl Pakistan out twice. The approach is high risk, high reward. The one match they lost was by an innings after twice being bowled out for under 200 against South Africe. I'd expect to see a few more results like that, especially against the best bowling attacks (which includes South Africa). It's also worth noting that Pakistan were missing most of their main pace bowlers for this series, but that doesn't detract from the acheivement of a 3-0 away win. Crunch time is going to be the Ashes. Labuschagne, Smith and Head are all batting exceptionally, and they have the best bowling attack as well. If they continue to play for results, scoring at rapid rates and taking risks with field positions then it's going to be an exciting ride.
One thing worth highlighting is the pressure scoring big runs at a rapid rate can put on the oppositon. Eng scored at 91.83 runs per 100 balls v Pak, who managed 55.39. Eng's series rate is the highest in Test history, as is the difference (36.44) in any series of 3 Tests or more. The previous highest in a 3-Test series was Aus v WI, 2015-16 - 77.80 and 26.53 respectively.— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) December 20, 2022 If you score 500+ in two days, then the opposition will think "bat 2 days, score 500 and we can't lose". If instead you score 500+ in one day (as England did in the first test), then 500 in 2 days still puts the oppostion under pressure, as the threat is England go out and score 300+ in under two sessions, and you've then got to bat 4 sessions in the 4th innings to save the match. Score only 400 and your only chance is to bat out 4 or 5 sessions for a draw. Playing to not get out rather than playing to score is one of the hardest things to do in cricket. The mindset becomes different. There's more pressure on in the 2nd innings which creates opportunity.
Not the best start from Borthwick. Looked dreadful today and his changes from the bench are hard to understand. Feels like the WC is a complete write-off.
I didn’t see all the game but at least we won against the Welsh which is always nice but why we keep kicking the ball away in dangerous situations always puzzles me. Smith should start in front of Farrell who just slows our game down.
Returning after the weekend. He just needs game time. Fords inclusion will be interesting. Farrell I have my issues with, but Slade… for all his talent… delivers nothing. Absolutely nothing. If there’s a weak link that needs to be changed it’s him. Pick 2 big centres. 1 of the 3 10s and see where it goes. Borthwick is getting things right though to an extent.
It just seems like mismanagement to me. Why didn’t he drop him before the last game? He seemed so adamant regardless not to use him even when Farrell struggled? It’s like when he strangely called up Ben Youngs. Let him come off the bench against Scotland and then dropped him into pretty much retirement now.
I almost feel sorry for Borthwick, got the feeling job is too big for him. For sure the RWC is a write-off in terms of winning it. France, Ireland, New Zealand & South Africa are all at least one level above. I'd take getting past the group stage. If you thought the earlier performances in the tournament were dreadful I'd be interested in what word you'd use for the game today. Worst home defeat at Twickenham. Irrespective of venue, only the 36-0 defeat to South Africa at the 2007 World Cup and a 76-0 record defeat to Australia in the late 1990's could possibly be worse. And I'd assume Dublin next week will challenge those defeats. All this on top of what has happened to Wasps & Worcester at domestic level. In most other Nations there'd be a commission conducting a review into their Federation. However nothing will happen to the RFU and people like Bill Sweeney will keep their job. I think it'll be many years before the Grand Slam of 2016 or reaching another World Cup final is repeated.
It was awful wasn’t it. I’m not sure I like Borthwick’s after match interview. Felt a bit like Roy Hodgson’s reign when the bar was lowered to the floor with regards to expectations.
This post from five years ago feels the right place to mention that Danny Mills son George is now an athlete who running at the European Indoor Athletics last month.
“It's a problem that's not going away.”Alix Popham told @BBCRadioWales three England RWC2003 winners and around 15 British & Irish Lions have been diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE.He said urgent changes to protect current and future players are needed. pic.twitter.com/Q2aaroL8Cs— Progressive Rugby (@ProgressiveRug) April 7, 2023 Some very sad news,