"The message to the players is: go out, move the ball, play fast, play brave, Steve Borthwick said after announcing a pretty settled side for Murrayfield. The message it sends to England's frustrated fans is not particularly upbeat. Instead there is a whiff of damage limitation in the air. Better to lose by a respectable margin with a semblance of cohesion than roll the dice again and potentially risk a 40-point thrashing."
"Not unlike the Ashes cricket series in Australia this winter, the team sheet for the final game of an already torpedoed campaign is a case of too little too late. Similarly to the cult of Bazball, the bell is tolling for the Borthball era. Even if the head coach remains in post, it is inconceivable that England's tactical approach can remain unchanged."
England began the Six Nations with a dominant 48-7 victory over Wales, but has since suffered three consecutive defeats, effectively eliminating them from title contention. Head coach Steve Borthwick's "Borthball" tactical philosophy, emphasizing fast, brave attacking play, has failed to deliver results. With minimal time for remedial work and a demoralized squad, Borthwick made only one personnel change for the final match against France, signaling a damage-limitation approach rather than bold tactical innovation. Former England internationals increasingly question his suitability for the role. The unchanged tactical instructions and near-identical team selection suggest prioritizing avoiding heavy defeat over pursuing victory, reflecting the campaign's deterioration from initial optimism.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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