There is nothing like a lengthy review process to bury matters. Draw it out, consult as many people as possible – relevant or irrelevant – and then dump a massive 1,000-page report on the table. Indeed, the reviews conducted by the WRU and RFU after a series of disappointing results in the Autumn Nation Series arguably saved the jobs of Warren Gatland in Wales and Steve Borthwick with England.
Nobody does the official report process better than Wales. After three crushing defeats by Fiji, Australia and South Africa, the WRU announced it would be conducting a review into performances, led by its chief executive Abi Tierney.
The outcome was an announcement Gatland would be staying in post, but there would be another review after the Six Nations. That was a bit like wagging a finger and telling the rabbit, ‘you mustn’t eat the lettuce’.

Tierney’s conclusion was ‘Gats’ is still up to the job and able turn around the fortunes of the national team. It could be a long six weeks for the most successful Welsh coach of the professional era after that shattering 43-0 loss in Paris on the opening weekend. There will be another death by a thousand administrative papercuts at the end of the tournament.
Meanwhile Borthwick has been given a target of four wins from five matches in the Six Nations by the Rugby Football Union, even though there is currently more turmoil within the administration than there is out on the field. CEO Bill Sweeney will face a vote of no confidence on 27 March after more than 150 members triggered a special general meeting, calling for his removal.
Among the topics for consideration will be the loss of three professional clubs from the top tier and the Jersey Reds from the Championship, another revival of the eternal debate about promotion-relegation between the two divisions, and the public relations palaver surrounding the reduction of tackle height at community level. It would surprise no one if there is another review scheduled to resolve all the problems.
Borthwick’s remit now means he needs to win all of England’s remaining Six Nations games [three of them at home] to hit his target. It is a tall order but by no means impossible. The Cumbrian’s charges lost 27-22 to Ireland in Dublin after looking to be in control of the match at half-time, when England led 10-5.

England lost the next 34 minutes 22-0 before fighting back with two late tries to give the scoreline a sheen of respectability. In the process they acquired an away bonus point which may yet prove vital in the final reckoning.
The primary point of tactical interest in the build-up was how a suspect England defence would cope after a shaky November, and how a back-row filled with three natural number sevens would operate within it. One of the main ideas would be to pump the ball high into the Dublin air and have an outstanding corps of chasers and ‘repo-men’, featuring Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, new cap Cadan Murley and those three scavengers in the back-row, dominate the Irish receivers in the air, or on the ground after the catch. This part of the plan did not work out so well: of 15 contestable kicks launched, England only won four back.
In defence, England decided to call the full-on blitz far more selectively than in the autumn, while relying on their line integrity and the speed of their multiple sevens to cover the ground laterally when the play went wide. In the first half, for the most part the plan worked a treat.
The screenshot illustrates the type of situation England wanted to engineer on defence when Ireland shifted the ball into the far 15m channels: the backline focuses on keeping their cohesion on a drift sideways, and they have four good jackals or counter-ruckers around the ball when the move comes to stop: “1” Tom Curry is already engaged with Caelan Doris at the ruck, Murley “2” is reloading, while “3” Ben Earl and “4” Luke Cowan-Dickie are in close attendance. There are already good prospects for a successful turnover if Earl and Murley commit to the counter-ruck, but in the event the men in white chose to develop their line speed instead.
With pressure at the ruck allowing them ample time to regroup, the England line led by skipper Maro Itoje, is able to tee off on the Irish first receiver Finlay Bealham and create a try for scrum-half Alex Mitchell off the loose ball generated – well, almost.
It was a repeated storyline in the first period.
England’s policy was working. In the first instance Tom Curry is the first forward to arrive along with Cowan-Dickie, and Hugo Keenan cannot prevent him turning the ball over in contact; in the second Ben Curry and Earl are on-ball before any of the Irish cleanout players have time to react.
The problems began to manifest when England could not get back-rowers across in time to protect their passive defensive shape on the edges.
In the first example Tom Curry and Earl are blocked out on the ball behind and cannot recover in time to help Marcus Smith and Mitchell on the left edge of the field. With England holding off, that pair are sitting ducks for attackers with the passing skills of Sam Prendergast and Mack Hansen.
In the second clip, Mitchell is left exposed in a one-on-one with James Lowe, while having to move laterally to make a stop. It is a tough ask with a man of Lowe’s power through contact, and once again Tom Curry is unable to plug the leak in cover.
In the second period, Ireland adjusted their attack to pin down the defending back-rowers in midfield before shifting the focus towards those attractive one-on-ones outside.
The Curry Twindaloo is buried in the ruck and Earl is on the wrong side of the play, and that is Ireland’s trigger to give Bundee Aki a run at Smith and Mitchell down the left touchline.
When Earl and Ben Curry finally left the field, the men in green targeted their replacements quite ruthlessly.
The last remaining open-side [Tom] is on the other side of the play, Tom Willis is pushing up the middle of the ruck, and Chandler Cunningham-South is defending with far too big a gap inside him, with two Irish forwards and Lowe lurking just opposite. It is the kind of close-knit, combined backs-forwards ‘flood’ play Ireland used with such success against South Africa last July, but England seem oblivious to the danger.
When England went to a more orthodox back-row shape with Willis at eight and Cunningham-South at six, they found they could no longer protect their passive shape on the outside of the field.
Both the Smiths [Marcus and Fin] are scattered like chaff in threshing machine by Lowe and Dan Sheehan, and there is no England back-rower in sight to ‘mind’ them.
Probably with a sense of relief and slightly tongue-in-cheek, Borthwick observed wryly after the game:
“We are looking forward to being back at Twickenham next week in front of our supporters. You are starting to see a team who are learning how to really move the ball and develop our attack.
“Ireland are a world-class team and have been for a long time. They have been in the top four consistently. That experience told in the third quarter.”
The attack is not the problem, but achieving the right defensive structure and the best combination in the back-row within it remains the thorniest of issues. Shipping another four tries to reinforce the average from the autumn is ultimately, highly un-English.
England’s defensive strategy was brave, but it is surely an arrangement they cannot repeat against France next weekend. Not against that quicksilver back three. Not against that huge pack of maulers and brawlers.
Gatland will be able to furnish Borthwick with as much information as he needs. For both head coaches, it is a matter of good fortune the profile of off-field problems in England and Wales far surpasses those on the field of play. No need to find any answers, not when you can commission another review.
How is Gatland under pressure? He loses every game, is still in a job, and the board are happy with him. He is under the least pressure of an international coach. He would have been under pressure if he was told he had to win one, yes just one, game in the 6N. But no, he doesn't even have that albatross around his neck. Easiest job in the World!
I doubt he is the sort to enjoy losing all the time JJ, even if he's earning a decent salary for doing it.
Why are so many people so concerned about the state of Welsh rugby at the moment. Obviously there's an issue with the structure here but get on with life. Maybe if those trys were disallowed last weekend as they should have been, and we had put a few points on the French, then we wouldn't be having these conversations. Italian rugby has been poor for nearly 20years, can't remember this amount of publicity when they were playing poor !
Pretty obvious JT - Wales have been championship winning side until the last three or four seasons. Now it's all collapsed in a heap. It's a rugby-loving country after all. Italy prefers Soccer and often plays in Soccer stadiums!
I agree. Who cares? Why should anyone care?
Thanks for that Nick. Interesting point on how well Ireland dealt with the contestable kicks, they really do have an excellent back three.
I was amazed at how England had all three small loosies to start and their big ones on the bench. It gave them a temporary breakdown advantage but at what cost in the second half.
Possibly he did it because Chessum has been injured and CCS isn't an 80 minute player yet at this level, in fact only one start for Quins since Christmas. Willis could have started though, he's been very effective for Sarries.
As you say, Chessum is a must for France - I think it ruined their balance not having him last July and November too.
It was a bold move but probably a step too far with the three 7's JD.
And yes they could have gone with Tom C at 6, Tom W at 8 and Ben Earl at 7 instead. Willis a lineout option too.
It looks to me that SB is still very much concerned with the defence but it's undermining the whole structure of the side atm.
I would have thought the WRU would have brought in ex Welsh rugby players to assist Gatland. Where is his support?
He brought in Adam Jones to rebuild the scrum and that def helped. But I think he needs a new attack coach.
Interesting analysis, I wondered why our halfbacks kept getting caught defending against Kiwis on the wing. People seemed keen to throw Smith and Mitchell under the bus but they are not supposed to be exposed like that. There clearly was a breakdown in defensive strategy which I now understand. Smith and Mitchell could have done better perhaps but you leave your smallest players alone to tackle guys like that and tackles will be missed.
Attack is still definitely a huge issue though. We spend so little time stressing defenses. Our flankers may have been more able to cover the wings if we didn't spend the entire game without the ball. England need to mix it up and start putting some multiphase rugby together. Borthwick's unwaivering dedication to a box kicking strategy which isn't working is weird. Again we saw the players are capable of playing some dangerous rugby when they're chasing the game and forced to throw Borthwick's strategy out the window.
Yes they were exposed by the fact they couldn't take players like Aki and Lowe early and head-on. Odds favour the ball-carrier when runners as powerful as that have a defender shifting across field to get set first.
The plan looked like it was to counter from kicks and turnovers and that part worked well as it did in 2024. When Eng couldn't win enough ball back from the boxys they had to change tack tactically or accept to give Ireland control of possession. Tha latter is rarely a good idea against the men in green.
When more than one staff member leaves a team the board need to do thorough dd. This also happened with EJ. I’m not sure there are that many England pro’s that remain unselected. The issue is messaging. Ireland are fortunate to have central contracts so the plan is crystal. France have respected management. If a game plan is clear there are enough leaders to manage a crisis. If not then the crisis spirals. Look at the body language of Smith. He bounces like tigger and then wham he is like eyeore. Either Van Graan or Franco Smith will be taking England to the WC.
It's still a mystery why Walters and Jones left at the same time W. At least in the public domain. What is the issue there? I'm yet to be convinced Joe El-Abd is a Test match coach - at least not yet!
"Meanwhile Borthwick has been given a target of four wins from five matches". I don't think he will do that, Nick. In fact my money would be on France rolling England badly, and the Scots carrying on what is now a tradition, beating England wherever they play them. Italy could be a tough game too, leaving only Wales as a "should win ". But Wales are not useless either, not badly coached. Could be a rough year for England.
I think England now have to win their home matches at a bare minimum Miz. Not sure Borhters will survive another 3-2 result though.
Wales NOT useless or badly coached? What a statement.
Great insight thanks. Very different match and problems to solve for Ireland versus Scotland on Sunday.
Yes that will be a very diff game for sure!
There is a very simple universal solution worldwide to improving a rugby team.
Sack the kiwi coach.
Watch Wales rise from rigimortosis when they finally sack Gatland.
I didn't realise that Borthwick was a kiwi. That's obviously the reason England aren't performing.
Thanks Walter for pointing that out.
You obv missed the bit that said Gatland was the most successful Welsh coach of the pro era!
Thanks Nick. Am only halfway through the Ireland England game replay. The 3 jackals in the backrow didn't seem to effect their line out at all? Would you suggest from the above clips they pick the same starting backrow vs France?
I'm not especially well informed on this, but it was interesting hearing the commentators say that playing one match with only 2 jumpers isn't an issue, but playing back to back games with only 2 jumpers means you'll likely run out of calls and become very easy to predict.
The England lineout was shaky in all honesty, which is why I think Chessum will be back at 6 for France.
I feel pity for Welsh supporters NB. Completely outgunned and never looking like scoring.
England are hard to make sense off. Plenty of talent but a dreadful sleep period in the 2nd half. Ireland during that period looked the best they have had for a while.
England aren’t fit enough to execute their defence heavy game plan over 80 minutes. And they showed us that they can’t pull of the 6/2 split “Bombsquad”. France are going to hammer them.
The 'nil' was the worst part OM. Welsh teams of the past have usually been able to score a few tries, now even that blue blanky has been ripped away...