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What Borthwick said when asked if England will add more coaches
Steve Borthwick has insisted that everything is still on track for England to get the much-desired Rugby World Cup opening round win versus Argentina on September 9 and that additional assistance in coaching the team isn’t needed.
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The Borthwick tenure hit rock bottom at Twickenham on Saturday when England were beaten 30-22 by a better-coached Fiji.
However, in spite of this being the sixth loss in the nine outings since he took over from Eddie Jones and the third in four August warm-up matches ahead of France 2023, he didn’t flinch post-game in stressing how there is still optimism heading across the Channel next Thursday.
Asked if help was required for his inexperienced Test-level coaching team, he retorted: “No, I am very confident in all the people involved around the team… today is not the result or certainly aspects of the performance that we wanted. We are all disappointed by that.
“What we need to do is ensure in two weeks’ time we put in the performance that is required against Argentina. That is the focus and we have got a very talented group of players that I am sure will play exceptionally well against Argentina.”
Argentina was the straw that Borthwick repeatedly clutched in his 11-minute post-game briefing. On one hand, he was perfectly correct to do so as a win in Marseille against the Pumas will draw a line under a desperate August where England have been drowning in mediocrity.
However, lost that pool opener and all the criticisms of recent weeks will be validated and this Summer Nations Series will be remembered as the World Rugby World Cup preparation in England’s history. At least he was magnanimous about the win Fiji has secured in London.
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“I congratulate Fiji on their performance and deserved victory. They took their chances really well. We are bitterly disappointed.
“Frustrated that we saw growth in some areas of our game but other areas dropped off and ultimately if you miss that many tackles, fall off that many tackles against a team such as Fiji, they are going to score tries.
“We are bitterly disappointed. Credit them for an excellent performance. Ww knew they were a dangerous side before the game, they pushed France very hard last week in France, and they took their opportunities today.
“They are going to do very well at the World Cup and there is the potential we may meet them again in a few weeks’ time.”
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Did he have a message for disillusioned England fans? “Everybody around the England team care deeply about the team, about English rugby. We’re very disappointed with the result today and aspects of the performance. However, it is very clear what we need to do to move forward over the next two weeks.
“I am very happy with the squad we have got. We have got a really talented group of players. The most important thing with the group we have now is the players, coaches and management because I have been involved with other England teams before that, under pressure in difficult circumstances under adversity which is some of the challenges we have faced the last few weeks, have come apart.
“What I sense is this is a group that is coming even tighter together. We are looking forward to getting to France later this week and looking forward to getting into this World Cup.”
Confirmation of the 33 that will definitely travel was still awaited overnight. The squad is already down to 32 with Anthony Watson ruled out and a medical update was awaited on some others in casualty, namely Elliot Daly.
“In terms of the wider 33, I’ll confirm it as soon as I get the confirmed medical report and the only reason I didn’t confirm Thursday was I need to ensure everyone is fit post this game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
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