England Rugby: Finding Positives in Defeat
It was heartbreak for England last Saturday as they succumbed to a 33-31 defeat to France in the fight and final Six Nations matchup. Ramos kicked a penalty for the French in the closing minutes to put his country ahead and England were unable to answer back.
The result meant England finished third in the table, behind winners Ireland and France. Ireland, the team that England astonishingly beat the week prior in dramatic fashion, surpassed Scotland hours before the England-France kick-off Saturday evening to claim back-to-back Six Nations.
England will feel hard done by and defeated in what was a fascinating encounter with France. Sure, they already knew they could not win it all. So why does it really matter? The difference between finishing second and third is minuscule in a wider scope. But Borthwick’s men were looking to impress, both their coach and country.
It has been an arduous time for England rugby of late, despite reaching the semi-finals at last Autumn’s World Cup in France. Losing to eventual winners South Africa who secured their second consecutive World Cup. There has been an overall lack of enthusiasm and optimism from the British media about the team and coaching since Steve Borthwick took charge at the back end of 2022. But could this Six Nations showing alter that narrative?
What Near Future Looks Like for Borthwick and England
Like most England managers, Borthwick seems to have been given a short fuse. Ireland and South Africa’s recent dominance in their respective hemispheres has meant England Rugby has been cast aside to be just another country. They haven’t looked like challenging the world’s best, and the semi-final performance against South Africa took most by surprise. Mediocrity appears to be the new expectation, whereas before it would be, win the Six Nations or it is a disappointment.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, what can England do to push themselves back to the top of international rugby, competing with the best on a regular basis? There is no concrete answer. But the performance against Ireland a couple of weeks ago should be a start. England did not play their cleanest game of rugby, but they hung in there and kept themselves within touching (or kicking) distance down to the wire. This enabled Marcus Smith to execute the winning drop goal to perfection and send Twickenham into a frenzy.
But losses to France and Scotland on either side of that memorable win brings England back to reality. Ireland is in a league of their own, and the likes of England, France and Scotland can only try and be the best of the rest.
Building into Autumn Internationals
Off the back of a World Cup year and spring Six Nations, England now have time to regroup and recalibrate before partaking in several Autumn Internationals later this year. It means they will have to wait before they can prove themselves on the big stage again. The domestic season in England is nearing its climax, but the international work never stops.
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland will play friendlies against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Japan in October and November. Despite not being competitive games with stakes on the line, it will be a huge test for Borthwick, and his men and he will be able to gauge the progress of the team under his reign.
Biggest Performers From Six Nations
There is no doubt that Ben Earl was the standout player for England during the Six Nations. The flanker made the four-man shortlist for player of the tournament, alongside Ireland’s Bundee Aki, Italy’s Tommaso Menoncello and Scotland’s Duhan Van Der Merwe for his try contributions against Ireland and Wales. George Ford kicked well throughout for the men in white as the post-Owen Farrel era begins.
But the surprise package was Italy. Since joining the Six Nations in 2000, Italy have now won just 15 out of 125 matches. But they won two games this year, beating Wales last weekend to avoid the wooden spoon. They also pulled off a dramatic close victory against Scotland the week before in a thrilling contest.
Italy showed promise in most facets of the game and will now look to build on their impressive performance going forward. Michele Lamaro, the captain, caught the eye of many with multiple outstanding performances leading his side. Even in their defeat against England on the opening weekend, Italy held their own and competed; England only ended up winning 27-24. Additionally, in the France game, they were centimetres away from winning.
With Garbisi’s penalty in the final seconds ricocheting off the post and bouncing out. It was heartbreak in the moment, and everyone felt for Garbisi. Particularly after the ball fell off the stand with less than ten seconds left on the stop clock. If that kick had gone through, Italy would have had three wins out of five. But they can still extract many positives from their Six Nations performance and hope to remain competitive in months and years to come.
Can Anyone Prevent Ireland Domination
Ireland have now cemented themselves as the dominant force in the northern hemisphere. Despite a poor showing at the World Cup, they have now won consecutive Six Nations titles.
Only England’s last gasp drop goal stopped them from accomplishing the grand slam. It seems as if no one can come close to them right now. However, it will be interesting to see them match up against the likes of South Africa and New Zealand, to see if they really are one of the best sides in world rugby.
Their attacking prowess was evident throughout the Six Nations. Ireland’s ability to attack you from all angles is why they score so many points.
Embed from Getty ImagesOf course, we now must wait another year before the next Six Nations, and a lot can happen in that time. But, for now, at least, Ireland is a force to be reckoned with, and they are only looking up.
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