'Pretty obvious' that England 'haven’t adjusted' to Test rugby changes

Steve Borthwick admits England must bridge the gap between the Gallagher Prem and Test rugby quickly if they are to be successful this autumn.

Australia’s visit to Allianz Stadium on Sunday launches the second phase of the inaugural Nations Championship with Borthwick aware that his players need to step up their work at the breakdown and in defence.

While the Prem’s focus on attack has created some thrilling spectacles, it is inadequate preparation for the battles to come against the Wallabies, Japan and New Zealand.

The only round of European action so far this season exposed the English clubs to a different level of competition in defence and the breakdown and they duly won only one of their eight matches.

Top referee Christophe Ridley provided assistance in training at last week’s camp and also gave presentations to the squad in a bid to accelerate their readiness to take on Australia.

“The contact area in the Prem is different to Test rugby,” Borthwick said. “That was exemplified in Europe where the English clubs lost more ball and won back less ball at the breakdown than any other nation.

“The other area is the emphasis and importance placed upon defence. We need to ensure that we make it very, very difficult for the opposition to score.

“One of the challenges is that we are refereed domestically by English referees when internationally quite clearly we will never have the English referees, so you need to get used to other interpretations.

“Having that European round pleased me because clearly players needed to be able to adjust. The best players are smart and the best players adjust.

“And I think it’s pretty obvious that over the last six to eight months, we haven’t adjusted and dealt with moments in the way we want to.”

England have amassed 15 yellow cards in their eight Tests so far this year, including four in their most recent outing against Argentina in July. Borthwick believes going on the attack provides the solution to the indiscipline.

“Frankly, we spend too much time defending,” he said. “The way the interpretations are right now, as soon as you spend time defending there is likely to be a decision that goes against you.

“There has been an exponential increase in cards given – and not just by us. The vast majority of them are given when defending in your own 22.”

England are facing mounting problems at half-back ahead of Monday’s squad announcement after Alex Mitchell followed Fin Smith and Archie McParland into the treatment room.

Mitchell has joined his Northampton team-mates in becoming a doubt against Australia after sustaining a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 28-14 victory over Gloucester.