England have the country behind them at last after Borthwick’s finest hour
IT’S just one game and there was just one point in it, but the implications are profound. England have a first major scalp under Steve Borthwick. They have validation — and precious breathing space.
This means all the stirring words are no longer hollow. This means they truly are on to something. No Test side in the world can trick a victory over Ireland. Andy Farrell’s team came to Twickenham to take the penultimate step towards historic back-to-back Grand Slams and they were sent home beaten, stunned and diminished — at least fleetingly. The better team prevailed. Justice was done.
In the build-up to this pulsating classic, there had been talk of how the hosts needed a statement win, after Borthwick’s England had managed to beat lowerranked teams so far, but never one of the global superpowers. Now they have done that — only just, but it was enough to register on the oval-ball richter scale. There was an assumption of an Irish clean- sweep in this Six Nations since their emphatic, opening-night win over France in Marseille, but Jamie George and Co defied that script.
They have onerous fixtures ahead, against the French in Lyon, then on tour against Eddie Jones’s Japan in Tokyo and the All Blacks in Dunedin and Auckland. There won’t be many home comforts in the autumn either as England have to face New Zealand again, Australia — with Joe Schmidt at the helm — and world champions South Africa. But after this, they will have renewed heart and hope.
After three years of dire championship campaigns, this was a glorious emergence from an extended and miserable slump. The result and the manner of the performance served to ensure that England did what captain George had spoken so passionately about; they re- engaged their public. It was quite something to behold.
After Marcus Smith slotted the match-winning drop goal, the stadium was filled with fans dancing and cavorting in euphoric scenes. The stands were literally shaking. Twickenham is not often full of such primal fervour. Play like that and the national team will save the RFU a fortune on expensive marketing strategies and gimmicks. People who don’t normally follow rugby were hooked. Social media lit up with excited chatter and triumphalism.
England appear to have harnessed a sense of being written off in the media, in which case the invoice is in the post. In all seriousness, they were awful at Murrayfield, but certainly not the worst England team ever. Whoever in the camp is peddling that as the angle of coverage should be a political spin doctor, for such works of fiction.
Two weeks on, Borthwick’s men were magnificent on Saturday but certainly not the best England team ever. Those of us who traipse round after them shared a genuine satisfaction at being gifted a different narrative after too many years of English failure. It felt fun and a professional privilege to be at Twickenham, which is how it should be.
If they play like that, England can beat anyone, but that doesn’t mean there should be an instant forecast of a golden age ahead. They cannot just rally round a contrived us-against-the-world mentality to hit the heights.
This performance showed what is possible when they give training priority to the complexities of attack. In Edinburgh, they looked like they’d barely met before. This time, during the multiple purple patches, it was as if they could play together in their sleep. Running lines, passing angles, timing and energy levels were all on point.
It was undoubtedly Borthwick’s best result as head coach and his best day as a selector too. George Furbank richly rewarded the decision to stick with him and offers a different dimension at full-back, as he showed emphatically in the long run-up to the opening try by Ollie Lawrence. There were two involvements from the Northampton skipper and both were highly impressive. He played with the air of a man who felt trusted and supported. ‘I was very happy to be picked again,’ Furbank said. ‘I’ve got some very strong competition in Fred (Steward), so I know I’ve got to be at my best to keep that jersey. That probably wasn’t there against Scotland but I’m glad he stuck with me.’
George Ford justified being retained too, with trademark varied and effective distribution. Lawrence looked more like he does in the Bath shirt — a rampaging midfield asset. George Martin added considerable clout up front and Ireland’s new pack sensation, Joe McCarthy, was eclipsed. Ollie Chessum operating at blindside worked a treat and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso continues to be a rookie revelation.
England’s bench delivered too; not just Smith but Theo Dan and the marauding Chandler Cunningham-South, before he was forced off injured. Even Alex Dombrandt, who had been unable to seize his chance at No 8 a year ago, came to the party.
There won’t be many selection conundrums for Borthwick in the days ahead. Same again, per
haps? If it ain’t broke and all that. england need to harness a similarly potent combination of direct power and the intent to go wide and take risks. Smith’s shot for glory came after his no-look pass released Cunningham- South, then the playmaker burst clear.
Feyi-Waboso’s late surge on the right set the platform for the decisive strike. Dan kept storming forward without fear of failure. It was youthful exuberance which won it. england can cross the Channel knowing the pressure on them has eased, but it’s not a free hit. They can bring down Dupontless France, given how they made
a mockery of all the hype around Ireland. The hosts had the muchvaunted Irish running round in a flapping panic. It had the feel of seeing england chasing the All Blacks down blind alleys in Yokohama in 2019.
Ireland will win the title next weekend. Only a far- fetched mathematical equation can deny them. england probably won’t stop Farrell’s side retaining the trophy, but they can finish with a four-out-of-five campaign and the knowledge that they have the country with them again.