how the England team, moribund for several years, turned into a candidate for final victory

The XV de la Rose made an impression by beating Ireland on Saturday (23-22), and can claim the final victory before facing the Blues on Saturday.

“The fans deserve better.” It was with this sentence that Steve Borthwick, England coach, announced the change of the Rose, the day after a World Cup finished in third place which nevertheless seemed to exempt him from big promises and accountability. . When returning to France, Saturday March 16 in Lyon at the end of the Six Nations Tournament, the England team no longer has much to do with the one that was humiliated by the Blues at home last year (10-53). Younger, more spectacular, the XV de la Rose is forging a new identity and won its first prestigious success against Ireland (23-22) on Saturday at Twickenham. To the point of being able to hope for victory in the Six Nations Tournament, in the event of success against the XV of France.

When Steve Borthwick took office at the start of 2023, the task of conquest was the most urgent. The work was completed on time: during the World Cup in France, the XV de la Rose was able to rely on dominating forwards, both in running play and on the touchline and in closed scrums. The foundations, now solidified, seem conducive to the development of the more expansive, less stereotyped game promised by architect Steve Borthwick before the Six Nations Tournament.

The great works of Borthwick

The victory against Ireland rewards this new approach and above all gives credit and time to a team that is still vulnerable, as the English coach confided after the match: “For a good part of 2023 we’ve been working on relationships to try to develop the confidence of the players. I’ve shown them the progress they’re making, I’ve shown them the evidence, but I think what is important for the players is to obtain visible and tangible results.”

Steve Borthwick didn’t wait for sclerosis to take action. If the coach has focused on continuity for the forwards, gradually integrating the young shoots – George Martin (22), Chandler Cunningham-South (20), Ethan Roots (26) –he transformed his back line by integrating excellent ball handlers to support his new philosophy.

The risk premium

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (21 years old), Tommy Freeman (23 years old) and George Furbank (27 years old), starters against Ireland on Saturday March 9, were not in the squad for the World Cup. The last named, preferred to the very reliable Freddie Steward at the back, embodies this turn towards a more flamboyant game. With 75 meters covered with ball in hand against the Irish, he is the player who pushed his team the most, but also who lost the most balls on the ground (four). An assumed risk taken, appreciated by the English public, and now rewarded with a benchmark victory.

“England is an example of how nothing is set in stone. This team has another face, Borthwick is starting to convey his vision.”

Serge Betsen, former player of the XV of France

at franceinfo: sport

The new vision is not limited to offensive animation. It is also illustrated by the recruitment of Felix Jones, defense coach who arrived at the XV de la Rose this winter, after having held the same role with the South African world champions. The conductor of the Springboks’ aggressive but methodical “rush-defense” embodies the clever mix of rigor and personal initiative advocated by the English staff.

“You give a player the freedom to do something slightly different based on how many times they’ve been in that situation, how much knowledge they’ve gainedexplained Felix Jones during the training camp in Girona (Spain) last January. But if a player is wrong nine times out of ten, we know there is a big problem. It’s important to find the right dosage.” It is notably the one which allowed England to extinguish Ireland’s Grand Slam dreams, and to hope for the final victory of the Six Nations Tournament in the event of victory against France on Saturday.

A new identity to perfect

But the Tournament was not all rosy before beating Ireland, and this “new look” England can still be improved. In Rome at the opening, the English understood that the revolution would not happen in a day, coming close to a scathing disappointment against Italy (24-27). The narrow victory over Wales (16-14) and the clear defeat in Scotland (30-21) did not bear the marks of a team sure of its strength either. There still remains a certain lack of efficiency: the English were trailing at half-time in each of their matches in the 2024 Tournament, despite a clear domination in the first period against Italy, Wales and even the Ireland. Proof of their strength of character, they overturned these three meetings.

Steve Borthwick decided to embrace the vulnerability that comes with more creative play. “It is a team which remains dangerous, still in reconstruction, which is looking for itself a little, like the opening half position, warns Dimitri Yachvili, former scrum half of the French XV and consultant for France Télévisions. George Ford played last week but it was Marcus Smith who made the difference when he came on. [auteur du drop vainqueur].” Like its frail but twirling substitute opener, the XV de la Rose has less tough skin than before, but it is on the verge of successfully transforming itself into one of the most beautiful European teams.