Genge can lead England to glory in 2027
ENGLAND can be serious challengers for the World Cup in 2027. 100 per cent. The talent is there. I see it in the Premiership every week. They just need to put the right systems and playing style in place to step up. I’ve loved the backs-to-thewall fight that the team have shown but I think it’s time for a refresh. The quick-fix pragmatism that head coach Steve Borthwick introduced for this World Cup served them well but now the coaches have a four-year cycle to really build. It’s time to adapt their style, appoint a captain who will be a definite starter and introduce new players.
I’d love to see Ellis Genge take over as skipper. He’s the right age, the players like him and he speaks openly and honestly. Maybe Ben Earl could be his back-up because he also speaks well and he’s been the breakthrough player with the potential to become world class.
England fans want to see the players and coach speak with passion and personality. I’ve seen some of the press conferences with Borthwick and Owen Farrell at the World Cup and they haven’t shown much of it. That’s not to say Farrell won’t continue until 2027. Look at what Johnny Sexton did with Ireland.
Right now, there’s a big gulf between the top-four teams (South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, France) — and the rest. The Springboks were off their game in the semi-final and England still didn’t manage to beat them. They really need to start scoring tries.
That pragmatic style isn’t going to win the hearts of fans, and I don’t think it will push England into the top four. They can’t be happy with being gallant losers. Their play has been too predictable. I’m not saying they start playing like Fiji and run it from everywhere but the supply of tries has dried up. You can’t rely on kicks all the time. They need to get the public behind them — watching this World Cup at home, it felt like that didn’t happen.
The appointment of Felix Jones as assistant coach is a good move. By all accounts he’s a brilliant coach and he will have learnt a lot working for South Africa under Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus.
Who is going to take this team forward over the next four years? That’s what the RFU need to decide and the new coach will need to show consistency in selection.
You can’t build a style by swapping Marcus Smith and Freddie Steward around at full back as they’re so different. I don’t think Smith is the long-term full back. Fiji tested him a bit and he didn’t pass the test for me. His decisionmaking was exposed. You can’t get away with that against top teams.
I’d love to see Cadan Murley and Tommy Freeman come in on the wings. They desperately need to start building some depth there.
I’d like to see the national team work more closely with clubs: sharing fitness data, being transparent about game-time so workloads can be managed. Central contracts are something to look at. The potential is there if they get it right.