Taking over the reins from Eddie Jones back in December, it won’t have taken new England head coach Steve Borthwick to realise the work needed to take the national side back to the top of the international game.
With the 2023 World Cup in France getting underway in September, Borthwick and his team are looking to emulate the nation’s world champions of 2003 but there appears to be a gulf between England’s stars then and the current crop.
Calcutta Cup Defeat Highlights Shortcomings
After two disappointing Six Nations under Jones and a poor Autumn Series last year, the Rugby Football Union decided to make the change at the top. England only managed four wins over the 2021 and 2022 tournaments and are priced at 14/1 in the Six Nations odds to win the tournament this year. The 2023 campaign, and Borthwick’s first game in charge, got off to a losing start with defeat to a Scotland side who are 7/1 in Paddy Power rugby union odds to win the Six Nations this year. The Scots had previously given coach Jones days to forget during his seven-year tenure and Gregor Townsend’s side did the same at Twickenham with a 29-23 victory, as reported by the BBC.
England had opportunities to build on an eight-point lead they held at one stage in the second half, but they allowed the Scots back into the contest and then the nerves appeared to set in for the hosts.
The same confidence England used to have and the same aurora of not being beatable at Twickenham has dwindled over the last couple of years. It’s now up to Borthwick and his coaching team to try and bring that swagger back to the national side as they build towards the highly-anticipated World Cup on French soil later this year.
A Long Way Off The Class Of 03
Looking back to the England side of 2003 that went all the way to win a first World Cup in Australia, the current crop of players has some ground to make up. Building winning momentum in the build-up to the tournament Down Under, coach Sir Clive Woodward developed a ruthless winning streak in the squad. With captain Martin Johnson at the helm and with world-class players in their ranks like Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson, England reached the top of the world game.
England’s current squad does have world-class players in there, with second-row Maro Itoje, who spoke to The Guardian on the expectations in the Red Rose camp, regarded as one of the best forwards on the planet.
Meanwhile, fly-half/centre Owen Farrell has been a mainstay in the England side since his debut in 2012 and has been an important figure in the last three British & Irish Lions tours. With fresh faces coming through the ranks, there is plenty to still be excited about with England ahead of the 2023 World Cup.
Time is not on Borthwick’s side but as the new head coach settles into his role, and the players adapt to life under his leadership, England can still be challengers for the Webb Ellis Cup this year.
