How can England solve their problems after humiliation by France?



What can be done?

Head coach Borthwick has three main levers he can pull – change the tactics, change the personnel and change the mindset. The gameplan will be adjusted as Ireland’s strength lies in their tactical cohesion rather than the type of power brought to bear by France, while Borthwick is certain to freshen up the team. How he picks his players up off the canvas will be the biggest challenge as it was the type of result that leaves permanent scarring.

Who could be dropped?

No 8 Alex Dombrandt and scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet are the most in danger, while centre Henry Slade can not be far behind.

Dombrandt was the most ineffectual of the forwards on a day when he needed to get stuck in and Van Poortvliet has struggled ever since the July tour to Australia, potentially benefiting from a spell out of the team. Slade, meanwhile, has played three games yet has barely been seen.

Ireland have been dominant in this year’s Six Nations and present the next test for England

Do England have a chance in Dublin?

It is hard to envisage any scenario whereby Ireland – installed as 1/8 favourites by bookmakers – fail to claim their first Grand Slam since 2018.

Andy Farrell has guided the Irish to the summit of the global rankings and even allowing for the number of injuries sustained in Sunday’s win over Scotland at Murrayfield, they have the firepower to see off one of the weakest England teams in Six Nations history. Accurate, relentless, skilful – Ireland take some stopping as even France discovered to their cost in Round 2

What does this mean for the World Cup?

  • England
  • Japan
  • Argentina
  • Samoa
  • Chile

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Passage into the quarter-final was taken as a given but on the evidence visible at Twickenham on Saturday England’s Pool D clashes with Argentina and Japan are fraught with danger.

Borthwick has one competitive match followed by four warm-up games to shape the side – precious little time given the mess he inherited from Eddie Jones. Ambitions are being revised and if they get out of a group that is completed by Samoa and Chile, they will have done well.

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