Sir Clive Woodward didn’t mince his words as he laid the blame for England’s narrow defeat against the All Blacks squarely on the shoulders of Steve Borthwick.
England’s autumn opener started with promise but took a painful twist as Mark Tele’a came back off the bench to land a game-winning try in the 76th minute, sending England home with a familiar sense of deja vu.
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The Agony of Inches: Ford’s Last Gasp Miss
In the dying seconds, George Ford had a chance to snatch victory, lining up a drop-goal that had England fans holding their breath. But the attempt drifted wide, just moments after he’d rattled the post with a penalty that could have clinched it. The frustration was palpable, and Woodward wasn’t about to let it slide.
“Steve Borthwick’s Methods Must Be Questioned”
In his Mail Online column, Woodward wrote with frustration: “Steve Borthwick’s methods must be questioned because the game was there for the taking. The team were in control.” For Woodward, it wasn’t just about the final moments but a tactical misstep that England couldn’t afford.
According to Woodward, England had an eight-point lead at 22-14 with 20 minutes to go—prime time to keep the pressure on. But Borthwick, he argues, made a “crime” of what seemed like pre-planned substitutions. Off went Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith, and soon after, Chandler Cunningham-South—all key players on the day.
“Absolute Madness” as Substitutions Strike
For Woodward, these weren’t just any subs—they were a “raft of what clearly seemed premeditated substitutions.” His assessment was clear: “It was absolute madness.” Woodward noted that the trio was visibly thriving, showing no signs of fatigue. “When Smith sat down on the bench, he almost looked around and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘Is that it? Is that me done?’” he described, capturing Smith’s apparent bewilderment.
The Crucial 80: Earning Every Minute
Woodward concluded with a pointed reminder for Borthwick and his squad. “In international rugby, you cannot simply contain an opponent and look to hang on to your advantage. You have to earn the victory for the full 80 minutes.” He stressed this wasn’t about individual players but a coaching strategy that he believes cost England a much-needed win.
Goode, Sopoaga, and Nadolo Weigh In: “Hell of a Game, But…”
It wasn’t just Woodward who took issue. Former England fly-half Andy Goode chimed in on X, saying: “Hell of a game won by the finest of margins, congrats to the @AllBlacks. So much fight and endeavour by @EnglandRugby but I’m not sure about taking Marcus Smith off when he was on fire.”
New Zealand fly-half Lima Sopoaga added his two cents, saying, “If I’m Marcus Smith I’m spewing,” while Nemani Nadolo, former Fiji winger, echoed the sentiment: “Crazy old game… crazy to bring Marcus Smith off… I thought the energy changed when he went off?”
“Brutally targeted” – Five players who flopped in the opening round of the Autumn Nations Series
Here’s a look at five players who’ll want to leave their performances behind after the All Blacks defeated England and Scotland routed Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series opener.
Ellis Genge (England)
Guardian 5/10: “Back from calf injury and gassed by Tele’a for first try. Embraced the blitz defence but beaten by Jordan too easily as well.”
Telegraph 5/10: “Brutally targeted by the All Blacks for their opening tries by Tele’a and Jordan. Rule of thumb: don’t leave your prop exposed against All Black outside backs.”
Ben Spencer (England)
Guardian 5/10: “First start at 32 and looked nervous, caught out at one ruck on his own 22 and charged down. Settled thereafter but not the statement showing he’d have liked.”
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