Will Carling the latest England legend to lay into head coach Steve Borthwick

Rugby News
Sunday, 20 August 2023 at 21:22
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The most recent ex-star to criticise the present head coach Steve Borthwick following his team's recent defeat is former England captain, Will Carling.
He wrote on Twitter: "‘The players keep fighting until the end’ Borthwick - isn’t that just a basic requirement of playing for England, not something that we herald as a positive? When you wear that shirt, certain fundamentals must be a given - fighting every second is just one surely"
Earlier today, Cipriani also called out the current regime.
He pointed out that the leadership in place lacks a deep understanding of the intricacies of the game.
"If you're trained to think and not to feel you're always going to be one step behind," he wrote on Twitter.
"English rugby is digging its own grave, led by people that do not understand the art of the game.
"It's steeped in tradition and heritage, which is outdated and the very thing shackling the game."
"It is all 'how tough can I show to the world I am?' Bravado. It will only ever bring a certain level of performance," he added.

"Mercer recalled" - 5 England flops DROPPED, and who Borthwick call-up

Outlined below are five players who underperformed against Ireland. Additionally, we assess the potential candidates, based on their merits, who could take their places in the squad.

#1. Billy Vunipola

Telegraph 2/10: "Spilled a clearance kick, to the delight of Dublin. His head shot on Andrew Porter was inevitably upgraded to a red by the bunker. Another ban looms, as does a crisis at No.8 for Borthwick. "
Rugby Pass 0/10: "Having failed to sparkle seven days earlier, a huge step forward in performance was needed. It didn’t happen, his day ending with a red card via the TMO bunker. Borthwick claims Vunipola is as fit as he has ever seen him but that S&C didn’t emerge in this display where he looked leggy getting around despite being level with Genge at the short whistle on the pack ball-carrying metres. Two penalty concessions and a cheap knock-on that generated jeers from the home crowd highlight his first half difficulties. Sent packing for his yellow-carded shot on Andrew Porter 13 minutes into the second half, an incident soon upgraded to red due to “high degree of danger, no wrap, no mitigation”."
Evening Standard 3/10: "The difficulty of avoiding high tackles basically does not matter any more. This is the reality and players have to adapt, and fast, or end up letting their teams down."
REPLACEMENT: Zach Mercer, who should have been in the squad anyway

#2. David Ribbans

Telegraph 4/10: "Got done for straying offside early on, which was emblematic of England’s poor first-half discipline and was hauled off for Ollie Chessum not long after the break."
Evening Standard 4/10: "Conceding a penalty when doing the exact opposite of the referee’s instruction summed up a below par showing."
Replacement; Take a risk on Joe Launchbury or Nick Isiekwe

#3. Joe Marchant

Telegraph 4/10: "Looked a bit clunky at times in England’s non-existent attack, which is yet to show any signs of green shoots."
Evening Standard 5/10: "Quiet and got quieter as the game wore on."
Replacement: Henry Slade

#4. Elliot Daly

Telegraph 3/10: "Looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him after missing touch from a penalty. Was he to blame for Ringrose’s try? Roamed off his wing, inviting Mack Hansen to send a crisp cross-field kick."
Replacement: Premiership top try-scorer Cadan Murley

#5. Ben Youngs

Evening Standard 4/10: "Has to speed up the play off the ruck base."
Telegraph 3/10: "Ran the show at a pedestrian pace. Showed positive intent with a flurry of box kicks but those outside him weren’t singing from the same song sheet. Produced a horror pass to Ford’s shoelaces."
Rugby Pass 5/10: "Back in pole position at scrum-half after Jack van Poortvliet’s campaign-ending injury, he unleashed a neck stiffening flurry of slow and deliberate box kicks. Trouble was, nothing came back on the English side and he was also given a hurry up on occasion by the time keeping referee. Hooked with 23 minutes to go."
REPLACEMENT: The more dynamic Harry Randall
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