SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Steve Borthwick's men need to step up a level
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Despite beating Italy, England need to step up a level… Steve Borthwick’s selection calls paid off, but there is much to improve on – there are some big challenges to come
- England defeated Italy comfortable at Twickenham, running out 31-14 winners
- It was the side’s first win under Steve Borthwick but they need to show more
- There are tougher challenges coming with France, Wales and Ireland to play
I’m glass half full after England’s Six Nations victory over Italy.
Steve Borthwick has got the monkey off his back as head coach by recording his first win, but now comes the real challenge. We will find out so much more about England in their next three games.
I agree with Borthwick when he said England made a small step forward against Italy. But with a trip to Cardiff and then games with France and Ireland to come, England will have to improve markedly to win those matches. The selection Borthwick made for the meeting with the Azzurri paid off.
Jack Willis and Ollie Lawrence had excellent games and I was really pleased for them because they have both been through so much off the field this season with their clubs disbanding.
Willis also had that horror knee against Italy two years ago. His recovery from that has been impressive and he has shown the sort of resilience this England team needs.
Steve Borthwick has got the monkey off his back as head coach by recording his first win
Jack Willis made a stunning return to the starting line-up as England launched their new era
England should be hugely excited by the challenges to come in Cardiff, against France at Twickenham, and in Dublin on the final weekend. Everything goes up a level now.
I was complimentary of Borthwick’s selection for Italy and it paid off handsomely. Owen Farrell had a good game at No 10 and the midfield balance between him, Lawrence and Henry Slade worked well.
But there are still so many things England can improve upon.
Their first half performance was very encouraging. England scored three tries. I thought Italy were disappointing in the first 40 minutes and England had a lot of joy up front with the driving maul.
Their forwards did a good job. I was hoping England would build on that in the second period, but it didn’t happen. Part of that was because Italy were much improved after the break.
But again, I don’t think England helped themselves with their use of substitutions. Borthwick’s poor use of replacements cost England victory against Scotland. Against Italy, I didn’t see the need to make changes. Kyle Sinckler was injured, but at the start of a new England era I’d like to see England keep a settled team on the field for as long as possible to help the players work on combinations.
Yes, Henry Arundell and Alex Mitchell made an impact by combining for a try. But I didn’t see the need for Mako Vunipola to replace Ellis Genge or for Marcus Smith to come on.
Farrell was going perfectly well at No 10, as was Lawrence outside him as he carried and carried relentlessly. He got his rewards with a deserved player of the match award.
Exciting back-three player Henry Arundell (pictured) dived into the corner for a late score
Owen Farrell played really well but it would be nice for England to field a settled team
Last weekend I said England would have learned more losing to Scotland than they would have done had they won the game. I stand by that but in international rugby, you also have to learn when you win. England kicked an awful lot in the Italian 22. That was clearly a pre-planned tactic.
They thought they would get space there and put lots of grubber kicks through, but I didn’t think it really worked. I’d have liked to have seen the ball kept in hand a bit more.
There were lots of good points, but also lots to work on and Borthwick will know that better than anyone. I still have a very positive feeling about him as England’s new head coach.
I enjoyed a very brief chat with him before the match when he came over to where we were doing our punditry for ITV. The first thing I said to Steve was to congratulate him on the selection.
Borthwick spoke to pundits before the match and thanked compliments for his team selection
I handed Steve his first England cap as a player so we know each other but I think it was great he came over to chat. Steve is a personable and really genuine guy, but he is also a winner and I think it will work out for him with England because of that. The players won’t want to let him down.
Borthwick offered his thanks for my praise regarding his selection and said he was very conscious about it being about small steps of improvement for England right now.
He and his team delivered that against Italy. Now it’s time to go another level with a trip to Cardiff – which is always a difficult place to go – up next.
The victory was England’s first of the 2023 Six Nations with a 31-14 scoreline at Twickenham
I’ve seen a lot of Six Nations rugby over the years in a number of different roles and I thought Ireland’s win over France in Dublin was right up there with the very best I’ve witnessed.
It was simply a phenomenal game of rugby. The first thing to say was that after so much negativity in the sport, we needed a match like that. It was a brilliant advert for rugby.
I have to give huge credit to Ireland. Their performance was out of this world. France were very good too and were still fairly well beaten. That tells you everything about the strength of the Irish.
Hugo Keenan scored Ireland’s opening try as the hosts beat France at the Aviva Stadium
Garry Ringrose put the result beyond doubt when he crossed the line late on for the favourites
Ireland are firm grand slam favourites on current form but Scotland also deserve plenty of credit and they were excellent in the second half against Wales who are in a right pickle.
Wales might be in trouble after back-to-back hammerings, but no game in Cardiff is ever easy for an England team. If Warren Gatland’s side were coming to Twickenham a week on Saturday, I’d be far more confident about an English win. It’s a different equation with the game at Principality Stadium.
Scotland are also on for a grand slam and they have a phenomenal chance to keep their momentum going after two wins in Paris, a venue where they have a good record.
Finn Russell was the star man as Scotland secured a comfortable win over Wales on Saturday
Before this Championship began, I predicted the best Six Nations ever and we have seen rugby of that level so far. England haven’t been top of the class just yet and are behind the leading group.
The next few weeks will tell us just how far they are behind or whether they can make up ground.
One more thing. I was disappointed but not shocked in the slightest to hear an Italian journalist was soaked in beer at England’s win over the Azzurri at Twickenham.
One so-called ‘supporter’ threw a pint from the top tier after Henry Arundell’s try. It flew over the hoardings into the tier below and hit a member of the travelling media. Some people might think that’s funny, but it is not at all because if you can throw a pint, it means you can throw anything.
The incident further reinforced to me my belief the RFU has a big problem on its hands with the drinking that goes on at matches at Twickenham. After my column last week highlighting the problem, I’ve had so many messages. The overarching theme has been that I was entirely right to raise the issue and that it is a very real and genuine problem. It gives me no pleasure to say that the incident with the Italian journalist only goes to show that said problem isn’t going away.
There is criticism towards rugby’s drinking culture again after an incident on Sunday
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