England have begun the inquest into their greatest defeat at Twickenham within the stadium’s 116-year historical past after France dazzled their option to a 53-10 victory.
Ireland in Dublin is the ultimate project of the Six Nations for Steve Borthwick’s males earlier than preparation for the autumn’s World Cup ramps up and right here is the fallout from Saturday’s debacle.
What went mistaken?
For all however a short spell within the third quarter, England have been overpowered within the contact space and lots of of their failings stemmed from that.
France have been magnificent, enjoying rugby from one other world to plunder seven tries, however the way in which the house pack have been bodily dominated was disturbing. The apparent highly effective differential was compound by England’s lack of depth that meant they misplaced the collisions time after time.
What could be executed?
Head coach Borthwick has three major levers he can pull – change the techniques, change the personnel and alter the mindset. The gameplan shall be adjusted as Ireland’s power lies of their tactical cohesion somewhat than the kind of energy delivered to bear by France, whereas Borthwick is definite to clean up the workforce. How he picks his gamers up off the canvas would be the greatest problem because it was the kind of end result that leaves everlasting scarring.
Who could possibly be dropped?
No 8 Alex Dombrandt and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet are probably the most at risk, whereas centre Henry Slade cannot be far behind.
Dombrandt was probably the most ineffectual of the forwards on a day when he wanted to get caught in and Van Poortvliet has struggled ever because the July tour to Australia, doubtlessly benefiting from a spell out of the workforce. Slade, in the meantime, has performed three video games but has barely been seen.
Ireland have been dominant on this yr’s Six Nations and current the subsequent check for England
(Getty Images)
Do England have an opportunity in Dublin?
It is tough to envisage any state of affairs whereby Ireland – put in as 1/8 favourites by bookmakers – fail to assert their first Grand Slam since 2018.
Andy Farrell has guided the Irish to the summit of the worldwide rankings and even permitting for the variety of accidents sustained in Sunday’s win over Scotland at Murrayfield, they’ve the firepower to see off one of many weakest England groups in Six Nations historical past. Accurate, relentless, skilful – Ireland take some stopping as even France found to their value in Round 2
What does this imply for the World Cup?
- England
- Japan
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Chile
Passage into the quarter-final was taken as a given however on the proof seen at Twickenham on Saturday England’s Pool D clashes with Argentina and Japan are fraught with hazard.
Borthwick has one aggressive match adopted by 4 warm-up video games to form the aspect – treasured little time given the mess he inherited from Eddie Jones. Ambitions are being revised and in the event that they get out of a bunch that’s accomplished by Samoa and Chile, they’ll have executed nicely.
