England legend blasts fans for booing their own players, labels it 'absolute garbage'
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Steve Borthwick isn't backing down. Despite fans begging for a change, he's sticking with George Ford on the bench.
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Even with the pressure mounting and a four-game losing streak, the England boss is gambling on experience over the young gun, Fin Smith in his England team to play South Africa.
Goode's Brutal Take
Former England fly-half Andy Goode didn't hold back. "The crowd reaction was savage," he said on The Rugby Pod.
"Ford's getting ready to come on, and fans are booing. It's proof Steve's missing the mark. Sometimes, stats don't tell the whole story."
Goode insisted that Marcus Smith should stay at fly-half. "Marcus makes magic happen. Ford's just not it anymore. Fin Smith has been lights-out at Northampton," he added.
"Like, last week you are bringing George Ford on to close out the game and this is a Steve issue and a George Ford issue," he added. "This week, with five minutes to go, we have ourselves in a winning position.
"When you are talking about game management, you are talking about experience and you are talking about 75 minutes into the game, you are two points up and you have got a lineout in and around the halfway line – that is an awful play to call at that point by George Ford."
Tom May Claps Back at Boo Boys
Tom May came swinging at fans who jeered Ford. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
"England's performance was tough to watch, but the boos for George Ford were even worse. Garbage reaction. He's a top player who deserves better."
The Ford debate isn't cooling down, and Borthwick's call could define England's fate.
England team to play South Africa:
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 34 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 13 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 29 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 67 caps)
11. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 37 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 64 caps) – vice-captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 95 caps) – captain
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 86 caps) – vice-captain
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 9 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 38 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 35 caps) – vice-captain
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 42 caps)
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 4 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 117 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 13 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 19 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 9 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps) – vice captain
23. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 1 cap)
Editors picks:
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The proud Rugby WAGs who'll cheer on England this Autumn – including model, clothing store owner and restauranteur
When England's Rugby team clashes with New Zealand in the Autumn Nations Series opener, all eyes won't just be on the players.
Off the field, the players' wives and girlfriends (rugby WAGs) are a source of strength and style, with a few glamorous details of their own.
Katie George – Jamie George's Partner in Life
Katie and Jamie George have been a power couple for years. The Saracens hooker wed Katie in 2020 after six years of dating, with teammate Elliot Daly standing as best man. Their love story is a strong one, showing a deep bond and unwavering support for each other.
Mimi Fall – Maro Itoje's Fiancée
The towering Maro Itoje recently put a ring on it! The 30-year-old popped the question on a holiday to Nigeria, and his now-fiancée, Mimi Fall, said yes.
Known for being private, Maro shared the news with fans through Mimi’s Instagram, where England teammate Marcus Smith was quick to congratulate the happy couple.
Mimi is not only a model but also an artist, and she and Maro first met while modelling together.
Megan Slade – Henry Slade's Wife and Businesswoman
Henry Slade and his wife, Megan, tied the knot in 2022, and they share two beautiful children.
Megan runs a children's fashion line, Olive & Bud, known for high-quality basics with soft, earthy color palettes, co-founded with another new mum.
This Devon-based brand is gaining popularity, and Megan is as hands-on in her business as she is with her family.
Atdhetare Hoxha – George Ford's Resilient Partner
England fly-half George Ford is riding high in life, not only on the field but also at home, with his wife Atdhetare and their new baby.
Atdhetare has an inspiring journey, arriving in the UK as a child refugee from Kosovo. Driven by passion, she opened her own Italian restaurant, Sorella, in Saddleworth in 2020, bringing her love for food to life after overcoming a challenging past.
Her resilience is a source of strength for George.
Beth Dolling – Marcus Smith's Glamorous Girlfriend
The Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith has been dating model and singer Beth Dolling since 2019, and the pair regularly give fans a glimpse into their romance on social media.
Beth, who's worked with M MODELS MANAGEMENT and appeared in campaigns for PrettyLittleThing, has over 35,000 followers on Instagram.
She's also an aspiring singer, sharing clips of her vocals on a separate Instagram account, described simply as “Just some girl that likes to sing.”
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