Will Greenwood Tells Steve Borthwick to Scrap Tactic, Says Players 'Just Aren't Up to It'
11/10/2024 06:22 AM
England's defensive system has been scrutinised after a bruising 42-28 loss to Australia, with Will Greenwood calling for a serious rethink. In a game where both teams scored five tries, England missed a staggering 35 tackles, conceding their highest-ever home points tally against Australia.
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Captain Jamie George was quick to admit the defence needed tightening, labelling it a major factor in the defeat. “We took our foot off the gas” in the first half, he said, but the defensive issues were clear – England's line was far too easy to breach.
35 Missed Tackles, Five Tries Against… It's Not Good Enough.
Greenwood didn't hold back in his column for the Telegraph, insisting that no defensive system can cover up such a performance. “It does not matter which defensive system you employ nor who employs it, conceding 42 points at Twickenham, with 35 missed tackles en route, is not good enough,” Greenwood wrote.
The Blitz Is Under The Microscope.
The former England centre raised concerns about whether the blitz defence, inspired by the likes of South Africa, is the right fit for this squad. “A blitz, up-and-in defence requires sprinters and cage-fighters; players who have the speed to get off the defensive line rapidly and make a mammoth impact when they reach the attacker,” he explained. “For me, the jury remains out as to whether England possess the requisite natural athletes to defend like South Africa.”
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Too Easy To Breach.
Greenwood pointed out how England's backfield was left exposed for key Australian scores. Marcus Smith, who was deployed at full-back for the final 19 minutes, made a crucial mistake on the match-winning try when he bit in on Len Ikitau. Jorgensen was on hand to collect the offload and race home. Greenwood also noted that George Furbank was similarly caught out, allowing Tom Wright to score and keep Australia in the contest.
Is the Blitz the Right Call?
England have the intelligence, says Greenwood, but perhaps not the defensive firepower required. “We don't have weapons of defensive destruction like South Africa and others but we do have intelligence,” he explained. “Running a blitz was always going to be a risky experiment. Have we ever had the ingredients to run it properly in this country? No. Has anything changed? No.”
Time For a Rethink?
With England conceding 15 or 20 points every game, the question now is whether Borthwick will persist with the blitz or admit it’s not working. “The blitz is not working as intended,” Greenwood concluded. “It happens in life – business and sport – and you have to either double down on it – and improve it – or cut your losses. That is the crossroads that Steve Borthwick will find himself standing at now.”
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