Another game and another despondent, dejected Twickenham crowd stumbled for the exits. A team with so much promise and talent was left once again to lick wounds and ponder.
More records were equalled – not the good kind – and the talk coming out of the England camp was similar, about growth and project timelines.
Steve Borthwick came out early in the week to double down and questioned the fitness of the group, which seems a little unfair given many claim he is the main reason why Aled Walters, the team’s former head of strength and conditioning, is now working across the Irish sea.
Those players who are feeling the wrath of external pressure seem now to be targeted internally as well.
All that suggests the camp may not be happy. Of course, no professional team are sweetness and light when results are stacking up in the negative column.
Managing energy and directing those negative thoughts into positive results is critical. Especially as England seem stuck in a rut, a perverse cycle of self-inflicted failure.
Not often do England dominate second halves of late, especially in that last quarter. Last weekend they did, camped in the Springboks’ half for the majority of the second stanza only not able to execute.
Time and again we have heard and know that Test matches are won via the smallest of margins. England had several opportunities to capitalise on their second-half dominance but misfiring lineouts and key decision-making left England frustrated as another opportunity slipped through their collective fingers.
It could be argued England have had an annus horribilis. Since last year’s World Cup semi-final defeat to South Africa, they have won four games. One was a comfortable 52-17 victory against Japan. However, the other three successes – over Wales, Italy and Ireland – have been won by a collective six points.
In fairness, the losses have been close as well but there seems to be a similar theme whether in victory or defeat of simply being unable to break free and take charge of a game. It is like an infection the team just cannot shake off.
As England prepare for the last game of the series against Japan on Sunday, and what should be a fairly predictable outcome, the air will be filled with discussion and bar talk of Eddie Jones and his return.
The visiting team’s coach is a man much maligned by the media, fans and, by the end, the Rugby Football Union. Maybe we forget he went unbeaten in his first 18 games in charge of England.
Contrast that now with Borthwick’s reign. There are similarities in terms of personnel changes and disgruntlement. There are no similarities with regard to results.
If there was ever a team to play in this series to help the hosts finish on a high, it is Japan. Then again, if there was ever a coach not to face right now, it is Eddie.
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