Online Reporter
Coach Steve Borthwick said England will continue with innovative tactics such as back-rowers deployed in the centre and on the wing following his team’s 48-7 rout of Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.
Flyhalf George Ford staked a strong claim for the England 10 shirt with a clinical display with rival Fin Smith injured and his namesake Marcus relegated to the bench.
“I am loving my rugby and enjoying doing my job for the team. The environment, the squad, teamand coaches, I am loving it,” Ford said.Borthwick said the side’s blend of veterans like Ford and Jamie George with younger talents coming through had shown England’s developing strength. If you’ve got that then these youngsters trying to bring the energy they bring, that’s a great mix,” he said.
In contrast to the 100-cap Ford was winger Henry Arundell, recently recalled to the side having fallen from favour since the 2023 World Cup and a stint in France. The evasive winger impressed with a first-half hat-trick that showcased his speed, positional sense and side-stepping ability, albeit he will have harder finishes than the two put on a plate for him by Ford.
“He has been brilliant, he reminds me of Jonny May with his diligence and preparation, the way he’s gone away and developed so many different areas of his game,” Jamie George said of Arundell. Another England tyro, 21-year-old flanker Henry Pollock, exemplified coach Borthwick’s more experimental side of late as he appeared on the wing in the latter stages of the game.
That followed an earlier shift and more familiar shift for No 8 Ben Earl to the centres, a ploy which Borthwick said he will continue to use.
“He did a good job there, it’s particularly effective late game when you’re up on the scoreboard, you’ve got the opposition trying to use the ball in hand more and suddenly you’ve got four back rows on the field,” Borthwick said.
England will face tougher tests ahead as they bid for a first title since the Covid-hit 2020 season, with champions France looking in ominous touch after their opening drubbing of Ireland.
Powerful centre Ollie Lawrence trained well this week after recovering from injury and could be in contention for England’s next match away to Scotland, Borthwick said.Meanwhile, England winger Henry Arundell said his team felt “frustrated” despite hammering Wales 48-7 on Saturday to launch their Six Nations title bid in promising fashion at Twickenham.
Arundell bagged a hat-trick as the hosts scored seven tries but were denied further touchdowns by the television match official.
“They were probably tap-ins, but a hat-trick is a hat-trick,” Bath speedster Arundell told ITV.
“We’re happy obviously but there’s probably a bit of frustration we left points out there. If we want to be the best team in the world we have to take them.”The defeat stretched Wales’ long wait for a Six Nations victory, having last won a match in the tournament in 2023.“I feel bad,” Wales captain Dewi Lake told Welsh broadcaster S4C.We spoke in the circle at the end of the game, we let ourselves down, we let people at home down.”
The visitors had four players yellow carded during the game, including Lake and prop Nicky Smith in the first quarter.
“What we spoke about in the week was discipline,” Lake said. “Our discipline in the first few minutes was poor.”
Wales trailed 29-0 by the interval, even before England introduced a host of in-form players such as British and Irish Lions forward Pollock.
“We created opportunities, but we didn’t fire a shot in that first half, it’s hard to come back from 29-0 down,” Lake said.
“They could bring five Lions off the bench. They’re doing great and are one of the form teams in the world.”Wales will attempt to bounce back next Sunday when they host reigning champions France in Cardiff.
“We’re better than what we showed on the field,” Lake added. —SuperSport.
Mathew Masinge