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Bill Sweeney's 'underperformed massively' assessment of England

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney visits the England dressing room at Rugby World Cup 2023 (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

RFU chief Bill Sweeney is optimistic that Wednesday’s launch of a new eight-year men’s professional game partnership will deliver better long-term results for Steve Borthwick’s England.

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The CEO, who gave his 100 per cent backing to the head coach following recent staff upheaval, didn’t pull his punches at the Allianz Stadium launch when delivering his verdict on England’s record since 2003, the year they won the Rugby World Cup and a Six Nations Grand Slam under Clive Woodward.

“From an outcomes point of view, sport is about results, about success,” he insisted. “We have underperformed massively since 2003. We have only won four Six Nations championships, one Grand Slam – 2011, 2016, 17 and 2020. You’d expect more from us and we definitely want to deliver more.

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‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

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    ‘This Energy Never Stops’ – One year to go until the Women’s Rugby World Cup

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    “We believe we should always be in contention for Six Nations championships and Grand Slams. We believe we should always be in contention in the latter stages of knockouts of World Cups to go forward and win the World Cup.

    “We do sincerely believe this gives us a mechanism and the collaboration with the RPA, the players, the PRL clubs and the RFU to enable us to actually do that. We are already seeing some very good outcomes.

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    “The U20s Junior World Cup win this year was 12 months ahead of time. We thought we would really be contention next year. As Conor (O’Shea, the RFU director of high performance) has said, we have got stronger U20s coming through and a stronger again U18s coming through.

    “A lot of that has already been through improved relationships, how Conor and Phil (Winstanley of Premiership Rugby) and the clubs work together in terms of accessing those players and developing those players.

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    “So we think this is an exciting time for the game. It’s a completely different look and feel and structure to govern the professional game going forward, massively different from the previous professional game agreement.

    “And frankly, after 18 months of really friendly negotiations, we are just desperate to get away from the deal fatigue and actually get on with implementation and execution.”

    That execution will see Borthwick being able to select up to 25 players in an enhanced elite player squad and have the final say on all their sports science and medical matters.

    Having followed up an encouraging March in the Six Nations with two plucky tour efforts in New Zealand, the Borthwick regime was rocked by the loss of S&C boss Aled Walters to Andy Farrell’s Ireland while defence coach Felix Jones has also tendered his resignation.

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    Sweeney was adamant that these staff issues weren’t a repeat of the personnel merry-go-round that unfolded under Eddie Jones, Borthwick’s predecessor as England boss. Instead, he gave Borthwick his full backing despite the sudden upheaval.

    “We are obviously very disappointed,” he said. “You would have seen in New Zealand a lot of good momentum in terms of the way England have been playing with Steve as head coach. We have got a really nice blend of experience and young players coming in now.

    “There is real excitement around that. The way we played at the backend of the Six Nations and then in New Zealand was really encouraging and then we have got the autumn coming up, so for that to happen was massively disappointing. It came out of the blue. Totally unexpected.

    “What I can say, though, is Steve has absolute 100 per cent support from us, from me personally and from the RFU, and I can also say categorically says he has 100 per cent support from the players in that squad.

    “He talked to the players in the squad. They are quite keen to deliver a message which is we have got a really enjoyable environment in that camp, we have got a nice blend of experience and youth, we have got fun, have activities going on.

    “They seem to genuinely enjoy being in camp and they want to make sure they have got coaches coming in who are passionate about our journey and the vision we have got to buy into this new structure. To answer your question, disappointing. Things happen. We just need to focus now on moving on.”

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    Comments on RugbyPass

    I
    IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

    Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


    “The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

    Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

    So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


    “I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

    I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

    Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


    “I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

    So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


    “lol u really need to chill out”

    Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

    171 Go to comments
    f
    fl 5 hours ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    “Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

    Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


    “The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

    Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


    To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


    I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


    I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


    I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


    “Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

    lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

    171 Go to comments
    I
    IkeaBoy 5 hours ago
    Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

    Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


    His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


    How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


    Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


    His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


    Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


    Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


    Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

    171 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad? No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad?
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