England’s performance in the World Cup has been seen as a success, despite their early struggles. They won six out of seven matches, finishing on a high note after a string of defeats in warm-up games. The favorable draw and the team’s history in the World Cup gave hope for a strong performance. The opening victory against Argentina, despite an early red card, boosted morale. A cautious game against Japan was followed by a convincing win against Chile. England clinched victory against Samoa and held their ground in the quarter-finals against Fiji. However, their semi-final against South Africa ended in a disappointing defeat.
The scrum proved to be a weak point for England in the semi-final, and finding props who can scrum and carry will be a priority for coach Steve Borthwick. The team failed to score a try in the semi-final, highlighting the need for offensive improvement. The bronze final against Argentina started promisingly with an early try, but England only managed one more score and narrowly secured a victory.
The question remains whether Borthwick will address the team’s offensive struggles or continue with their kick-based strategy. Many believe a more well-rounded approach is needed to compete with the top teams. Despite their spirited performance in the semi-final, critics argue that consistently kicking away possession will not make for an exciting game and could discourage fans from attending matches.
Borthwick has been leading the team since December, with an extensive training camp before and during the World Cup. He remains optimistic about the team’s progress and their ability to improve. Hooker Theo Dan, who scored a try in the bronze final, echoed Borthwick’s sentiments, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back.
Overall, England’s World Cup journey has been a mix of struggles and successes. While they showed resilience and improvement in their performances, there is still work to be done to reach the level of the top teams in the sport.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Hugh Lawson)
