The English rugby team's recent performance has been a cause for concern, with a review of their Six Nations finish revealing a host of issues that need addressing. Despite a promising start to the year, England's under-performance across the tournament highlighted interconnected areas such as discipline, execution of opportunities, and making the most of key moments. These areas are crucial for consistently performing at the expected level.
The review panel's optimistic assertion that the team's playing philosophy was clear throughout the review may have been true for the panel, but it is far less clear to supporters and players. The England defense has shipped 158 points in its past four games, an average of 40 points per game, and has conceded twice as many penalties as the Springboks at Ellis Park. This is despite the team's aspiration to play a certain way, which is now looking unsure to those on the field.
The team's kicking strategy has also been a source of concern, with a high return rate on contestable kicks implying that England were effectively kicking the ball away for nothing. This has contributed to a lack of clarity in the team's strategy, with players unable to work out what the kick strategy was.
Discipline has also been a major issue, with England conceding a tournament-high eight yellow cards and one red at the Six Nations, and 55 total penalties. This has left the team playing with an arm behind their back, and has contributed to a lack of consistency in their performance.
The team's issues are compounded by a lack of adjustment to the new rules of combat at the maul, with England number seven Tom Curry seemingly unaware he was on the wrong side despite repeated warnings by the referee. This has led to a peculiar fog hanging in the world of English rugby, with the way out mired in uncertainty.
The team's performance has been a cause for concern, and it remains to be seen whether they can rectify their issues and perform at the expected level. The review panel's assertion that the team's playing philosophy was clear throughout the review may have been true for the panel, but it is far less clear to supporters and players. It is now up to the team to address their issues and perform at the expected level.
