Why Borthwick still backed England to win deep into Calcutta Cup demolition

‘Demolition’. They played for half an hour with 14 men and lost by 11 points.

The herd instinct of all the pundits and press apart from Andy Goode who repeatedly say what great leadership, game management and on field coaching ford has, must have red faces today.

I have said continually that Ford wilts in the face of good opposition . His all round effort was appaling.

Englands attack was supposed to be enhanced by the inclusion of L Blackett but he obviously has to follow orders cos NOTHING has changed from route one ford kick it in the air.

Line breaks, what are those ,?????

Borethwick will not select any differently as he just does not know anything else

. Pick the players in their best positions, a proper 10 who has more varied skills . Scotland were great and showed our lot what guts, skill and will to win looks like .

The France game will be embarrasing if the same team is selected .

Much as I disliked him to begin with, Steve Borthwick has achieved a lot with this England side. I agree with the previous post in that the team has certainly benefited from the ‘Twickenham-factor’ .. but the wins in Argentina last summer showed signs of real promise.

Unfortunately, despite all the media’s talk of the impact of the ‘Pom Squad’, I don't think Borthwick has ever mastered the use of the bench.

Yesterday's 6:2 split was compounded by the 2 backs replacements covering exactly 2 positions. England had no cover for numbers 11 through 15.

Also, the teams insistence on kicking away possession after just 2 or 3 phases was the very definition of the word unimaginative.

I don’t recall England winning a single aerial contest.

They defended far too narrowly, giving Scotland huge yardage every time they got the ball wide.

Finally, the midfield that finished the game for England, of Smith, Ford, and Dingwall was NEVER going to have the power, pace or expertise to cause Scotland problems .. when England were desperately chasing the game!!

Learn from this Steve .. the way Clive Woodward did in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to create the team of 2003!!

England were inept. Leadership, kicking, decision-making, tactics, handling, passing and tackling were all poor. They played into Scotland’s hands who punished them as any decent side would. Worth pointing out that most of the 12 win streak was at home, and they need to improve their away form as Italy are no mugs and France will be savage. Big improvement needed next week. Feel they need a big ball carrying 8 and a bit more oomph in the midfield to help open up defences a bit more

Not taking the penalty from the scrum was poor game management from Mitchell. With 14 men after the 2nd/3rd phase not creating a line break had to go back to the pen.

Ref warned him repeatedly about the advantage. Take the penalty and put it into the corner.