As the England rugby squad prepares to face South Africa at Twickenham this weekend, head coach Steve Borthwick is keeping his team focused on improvement and converting opportunities into points. Despite a string of five losses in their last six Tests, including two heartbreaking defeats at home, Borthwick insists on blocking out the external pressure surrounding the match.
Transitioning Team Faces Pivotal Challenge
England’s recent losses to the All Blacks and Australia at Twickenham have intensified the scrutiny on Borthwick and his transitioning squad. However, the head coach remains resolute in his approach, emphasizing the team’s growth and the need to finish off promising positions.
For me, I am coaching a team in the very best manner we possibly can. Where we’re at, where we intend to take this team, is you have seen a transition in playing style over this last period.
– Steve Borthwick, England Rugby Head Coach
Borthwick highlighted the influx of younger players into the team and the progress made in adapting to a new playing style. Despite falling short in converting strong positions into victories, he remains focused on refining their approach and finishing ability.
Changes Made for Springboks Clash
For the crucial encounter with South Africa, Borthwick has made four changes to his starting lineup. Sam Underhill replaces the injured Tom Curry at openside flanker, while Ollie Sleightholme earns his first start on the wing in place of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. In the backline, Jack van Poortvliet takes over at scrum-half, and Freddie Steward returns at fullback.
These adjustments suggest a potential shift towards a more pragmatic game plan against the physical Springboks, similar to the approach England took in their narrow World Cup semifinal loss to South Africa last year.
Jones Provides Remote Analysis
Another intriguing subplot involves former South Africa assistant coach Felix Jones, who joined Borthwick’s staff earlier this year before handing in his notice in August. Despite operating remotely as he sees out his notice period, Jones has been providing extensive analysis and insights to the England coaching team ahead of the match.
The packages Felix is producing, as is typically Felix, is very, very thorough. One of the initial packages, it was so big to transfer electronically from Dublin, Felix had to fly over and give over the hard drive, there was that much material involved in this.
– Steve Borthwick on Felix Jones’ analytical contributions
As England looks to snap their losing streak and gain momentum against a formidable Springboks side, Borthwick remains confident in his team’s trajectory and ability to deliver a much-needed victory. By shutting out the noise and focusing on incremental improvements, the England squad aims to silence their critics and reassert their standing on the international stage.
The showdown at Twickenham promises to be a pivotal moment for Borthwick’s tenure and England’s rugby fortunes. With unwavering determination and a clear vision for progress, the team will need to summon their best performance to overcome the challenges posed by South Africa and reignite their winning ways.
