England fans don’t have a lot to smile about right now, and a video posted by the RFU media team after the defeat against Scotland almost tipped them over the edge.
The video of England players on the field with their kids, laughing and playing, elicited a mixed reaction from fans.
Scotland have now won four and drawn one of the past six encounters with England. They have not lost at Twickenham since a 61-21 defeat in 2017.
One comment that recited over 500 likes on Instagram read: “I don’t usually comment, but whilst this is lovely, people pay a lot of money to watch England at Twickenham. And after the Autumn series, you might question why we pay so much.
‘Today, there will be a lot of fans disappointed by the result, however that disappointment doesn’t look to be reflected by the players. I can’t imagine with the likes of Johnson, Hill, Dallaglio, Greenwood etc. that after a defeat in the 6 Nations, England players would be having smiling and parading their kids around the pitch.
‘Save that for another time, please. Roy Keane talks about what it takes to become serial winners, and I’m not convinced this is it, sorry.”
A second disappointed supporter wrote: “Parade your kids on the pitch when you’ve won….if you lose go to the changing room and mope! where’s the heart and passion that the rest of the home nations will undoubtedly show us.”
Another commented: ” don’t get all this family stuff after they’ve just lost such a massive game. Do they not realise how disappointed how all of the silent support feel. Please can we have some passion from our team.”
Another fan dismissed the negative comments, saying:”We didn’t win, but there were some glimmers of what we can do (also some we shouldn’t). They played hard and came up short. However pride is much more than winning. Pride is something that comes from inside of you and those closest to you.
‘They are probably hurting inside from the loss and shock they are human. If having their little ones by their side helps them get over the loss, then I am all for that. Question, how many of you slating have ever pulled on a jersey and worn it with pride? Go back to your armchair..”
COMPETITION
Mike Brown: Three changes Steve Borthwick should make for next game
Legendary England fullback Brown post match has backed the same group of players to retain their places – but have a reshuffle of the starting line-up.
#1. Put Marcus Smith on the bench
Brown wrote: “I am still not 100 per cent sold on the Marcus Smith – Owen Farrell partnership at 10 and 12.
“They didn’t play that badly but I think Borthwick should play guys in their natural positions.
Put Marcus on the bench. Owen is captain so he has to start – it is a tough call but it’s the sort of call the new head coach has got to make.
“He has made some big decisions already but this would be the biggest. It would suit them team much better to have a proper 12 like Ollie Lawrence.”
Olie Lawrence facts:
- He plays for Bath, moving from Worcester Warriors in 2022 after the club went into administration
- Lawrence has a pool table in his house and plays regularly
- He could have been a footballer, telling Rugby World: “I played football and was involved in the academies at Aston Villa and Birmingham City. I stopped when I was ten as I didn’t like the environment. I also played cricket and at 16 I had to choose. I went for rugby as I enjoyed it more.”
- He is a fan of cricket and darts
- He has said he looked to England team-mate Manu Tuilagi to improve his own game. He told The Guardian: “I wanted to emulate him (Tuilagi) because the way he played excited me; that’s probably how my game evolved, watching players like him”
