England have bullets but not the right gun

I WAS optimistic about England’s chances at the start of the autumn series, given the closeness of the games against New Zealand in the summer.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

It made me think that at home, head coach Steve Borthwick’s team would be in a position to win three of their four games – however, losing the opener against New Zealand, automatically made that more difficult.

Initially, in another close game, England didn’t seem to be too far off. Their defence was reasonably good against the All Blacks, and they probably showed more pace and aggression than in the summer. However, England did not create as much in attack as New Zealand, and, despite the visitors not finishing with their usual accuracy, they paid the price.

Overall, the Australia game was a bit of a blur with so much back and forth, and then the Wallabies snatching it by turning the game on its head in the last minute. Towards the end it was clear that one or two England forwards were taking time to get back on their feet, rather than being instantly up and running again. It was also surprising how easily the Australians made breaks around the breakdown – and it was a shock that England’s guards often seemed to be absent.

In the third defeat against South Africa, England were in it going into the final quarter, but when the Springboks accelerated they simply could not keep up. It was a bit like watching a cat toying with a mouse.

England are a team that appear to have the bullets, but not the right gun to fire them. So, even though their tries by Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill were very well taken, they just seemed unable to stay in the fight, and ebbed away.

During this series England’s breakdown defence was embarrassed too often, and against South Africa in particular, it seemed as if the opposition simply had more in their locker.