Grosvenor Sport ambassador Will Greenwood is back to discuss the fall-out from England’s disappointing loss against Australia and to preview the upcoming Autumn international tie with South Africa.
Reflecting on Australia
In the grand scheme of things, whilst England continue to bed in this defensive system that I don’t think they are naturally suited to, they will always run the risk of conceding an easy try and losing five or seven points.
The English team works so hard to score on one end, but it seems so easy for the opposing sides to score an easy five or seven points. To concede 42 points at home just goes to show that something is inherently wrong with this defensive system. It’s a matter of if they stick or twist with it, which listening to the press conference with Richard Wigglesworth and Henry Slade, the comments came across to me like they were still trying to align the team with the same defensive structure.
The team must be better at delivering the defensive plan quicker, that’s the be all and end all. If this is the plan that they are going to stick with, that’s what it comes down to, it’s not an overly technical answer. They need to pick it up quickly or people will keep coming back to it as something to blame.
England vs South Africa Preview
South Africa are the best team in the world, there’s no question. You only must look at the depth of their squad, when it gets to a point where they could put out a completely different team as they did against Scotland, every single player and supporter would still believe they will win the game. That’s some level of dominance, they’re a skilful side but the size of the team as well is a real edge for them.
Regarding England’s chances on Saturday, I’d say they’d have to score at least 25 points to have a chance of winning, which is tough to see judging on their last two efforts. What I would say is, rugby is a violent sport and be wary of a set of desperate human beings on a rugby field. They can win any game of rugby, but it’s what level of desperation are you prepared to go to, how hard are you willing to fight. There will be players in that England set up who will feel their career is on the line, if you’re part of a team that keeps losing, you’ll be thinking that soon you’re going to get replaced. Scotland have one of the best creative fly halves on the planet and they still weren’t able to get their scoring going.
As far as the England line up goes, I think George Furbank is a casualty of the fact that England can’t get their game going, he is the best attacking threat in the Premiership and England can’t seem to make it work with him. The aerial battle has been going against them, so you must go with Freddie Steward, they need to get that control back and have someone who can diffuse the aerial threat, Steward gives you that.
Ben Spencer is another unfortunate case, I think he’s got six caps now and he’s never won a game for England, that goes back to what I say about you only getting so many chances. It’s difficult to see how we can’t have made this work, Spencer in a Bath shirt is the best number nine in the country, Furbank in a Northampton shirt is the best full back in the country, we’ve seen a similar story with the England football team down the years! You throw Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the side together and suddenly they can’t play football, the system and set up is not getting the best out of these talented players.
I can totally see why these changes are made, but I would feel massively aggrieved if I were them or their families, because the system isn’t allowing for these players to show their talent.
Predictions & Tips
I think it will finish 28-22 to South Africa, I can see it being a great game and there’s a lot on the line for England, I think they will show a renewed effort, but the Springboks will prove just too strong.
England +6 handicap at 22/25 looks a good bet in that case and I think that South Africa’s Kurt-Lee Arendse is a good bet for first and anytime try at 8/1 and 11/8, I can see England getting the blitz wrong and he will take advantage.
All the best,
Will