Following a disappointing 16-15 first Test loss to the All Blacks, Steve Borthwick is urging Marcus Smith not to linger on the past. The defeat was particularly hard-hitting for the English side as missed kicks from their fly-half were seen as the chief reason they missed the chance for a significant win in New Zealand. This sport is infamously challenging for England, who has not marked a victory on Kiwi terrain since 2003. The home team is now guaranteed to retain the Hillary Shield before the second and final Test on Saturday, continuing their three-decade-long winning streak at Eden Park in Auckland.
But far from dwelling on the missed opportunities from the past game, Borthwick wants Smith to concentrate on the forthcoming match. He reiterated that they cannot change the past and encouraged the entire team to gain valuable lessons from their loss and quickly focus on the future. “It’s part and parcel of the game,” remarked England’s head coach, who knows all too well from his playing days that regret does nothing but dampen the spirits.
He pointed out that even Damian McKenzie, a commendable goal-kicker, missed a few kicks which are natural occurrences in matches. He highlighted Smith’s excellent moment of assisting Manny Feyi-Waboso in securing his try and a robust defence against the Kiwi side.
Borthwick is determined for the team not to get buried in regrets and mistakes. He maintained that the squad is fully supportive of Smith, who will be briefed this week by Kevin Sinfield, his absence noted in Saturday’s game due to him attending Rob Burrow’s funeral in Yorkshire, a close friend. He emphasised that the focus should lie in examining and appreciating the merits of their performance in the first Test, rather than brooding over the loss.
There was a clear display of missed chances from the goal-kickers of both teams during yesterday’s match. Significant contributors such as Marcus, Fin Smith, and Henry Slade were all unable to meet expectations. Although regrettable, the missed goals are not the sole cause of concern as there were other opportunities that were never seized and some unnecessarily conceded to the opposition. Enhancements need to be made across multiple areas of the game. Notably, the standard of competition encountered at the breakdown in New Zealand is unsurpassed globally, acting as a tough learning experience for players. Such experiences are predicted to have a positive influence on their performance in future matches.
Joe Marler, regrettably, will no longer be available for the rest of the tour due to a foot injury. Consequently, Emmanuel Iyogun from Northampton is set to join the touring team as a replacement. Fin Baxter and Bevan Rodd remain as the only available fit loosehead props. It was clear that the opposition had an edge with their scrums during last night’s match; a concern that needs to be dealt with directly, as shared by Borthwick. Interestingly, the top-rated teams in terms of scrums are South Africa and New Zealand, with England taking a close third spot.
Senior figures within the England team are confident about posing a challenge for New Zealand at Eden Park, following a promising lead of 15-10 in Dunedin. However, Maro Itoje, one of the most outstanding players this season, acknowledged a dip in the team’s intensity during the final third of the game which allowed the opponent to pull ahead. Despite this minor setback, the collective belief is that the team is progressing well and there remains a great deal to be optimistic about.
England has chosen to disregard speculation of dubious tactics by the All Black management, who were reportedly filming the entire team’s warm-up prior to the Dunedin Test. While England chooses not to film the opposition’s warm-up, the team is aware of such practices and is undeterred, as Borthwick attests to the fact that their warm-up routine provides no insights about their game plan.