It’s not just Britain trying to leave the past behind. They took a lengthy review of the Wallabies’ unsuccessful World Cup campaign in Australia and came up with a list of recommendations almost as long as the Great Barrier Reef. With a massive “unapproved” overspend of A$2.6 million. [£1.34m]It emerged that players felt there was a lack of transparency around team selection and insufficient clarity around training.
Ring any bells? In 2017-18, when Eddie Jones was in charge of England, the Rugby Football Union was forced to cut more than 60 jobs following a budget blowout of nearly £900,000. And that 2018 Six Nations saw England follow up with fifth place, their worst finish in 31 years. Those who pay little attention to the lessons of history are, as they say, doomed to repeat them.
Relating to: ‘I couldn’t tell you what we are:’ England’s search for identity continues | Gerard Meagher
The review of England’s latest campaign has yet to be written, but there is a serious risk of deja vu when the RFU’s top brass meet. Defeat to a straggler Ireland on Saturday and England, now under the coaching leadership of Steve Borthwick, will be on course for a fourth consecutive underwhelming Six Nations season. As Borthwick and others have discovered, this cycle of failure (in stark contrast to Ireland’s steady upward trajectory) is extremely difficult to fix overnight.
At least a catalyst is needed: either a stunning result or a talented newcomer. Borthwick’s selection changes with the return of George Martin and Alex Mitchell reflect the reality of his team’s poor performance against Scotland at Murrayfield. They would love to bounce back with a statement win, but for that to happen against an ultra-organised Irish team, they need something or someone who can change the atmosphere of the stadium in an instant.
So step forward, the country’s most athletic medical student, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, will start his Test debut on the right wing, with Tommy Freeman shifting to the left. Just over 10 months ago, on April 23 to be precise, Feyi-Waboso was playing in the back three for the Taunton Titans in their final National One match against Leeds at mighty Veritas Park. Now it starts here at Twickenham, a role model that inspires ambitious young people around the world.
They felt about him at Taunton much the same as they do now in England: a likeable, sensible young man of natural talents. The biggest difference between then and now is his physique: when he reappeared in the Exeter singlet at the start of this season, he looked every inch the top professional athlete after a busy pre-season stint in the gym.
Super Manny? There are many cautionary tales that can be brought into play at this point. Ollie Hassell-Collins was sacked twice and briefly sent off. Henry Arundell was England’s golden boy at the last World Cup; He currently plays for France and is currently unavailable for his country. Joe Cokanasiga? Max Malins? Ollie Thorley? Is the man Radwan? Ruaridh McConnochie? Over the last five or six years, England has been quicker to hemorrhage young drivers rather than support them.
But Borthwick clearly likes what he sees in the 21-year-old and the Exeter winger’s decision to opt for England over his native Wales is already paying off. His trial at Murrayfield, shadowing the Scottish defense late on, revealing the instinctive timing that distinguishes class players and even missing training last week to undergo a medical, did not surprise him. “I feel like he’s a guy who does things his way,” Borthwick said. “He’s a really calm and collected character. He has risen to this level with every challenge thrown at him and I expect him to do the same again on Saturday. When I told him he was starting, he thanked me many times and said, ‘What do you want from me?’ asked. My message was: ‘I want you to get the ball in your hands as many times as possible.’”
“We haven’t found anything he’s not good at yet but we’ll keep trying,” promised Borthwick, who has also discovered that Feyi-Waboso is a talented pianist – the next trick is to get England’s backline playing more of the right notes. vaguely correct order. Take on Ireland’s strong kicking game, compete fiercely at the breakdown, disrupt set-pieces and stop the visitors’ attack at the source; Could England organize something special? Ireland are aiming to become the first country to win back-to-back grand slams this century, while becoming the rare country to win the Six Nations crown without at least one troublesome moment.