Steve Borthwick is under pressure to improve England’s performances (Image: Getty)
Former star Ian Hunter has confessed that he wishes the Red Roses had lost against France and Scotland in the Six Nations. The ex-winger says a ‘change’ is required and is concerned that the can will be kicked down the road until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
England have registered successive wins against France and Scotland. A on Saturday followed a 26-25 triumph over France. Neither match featured particularly eye-catching rugby.
Steve Borthwick’s side have turned around their Six Nations campaign after losing 27-22 against Ireland in their opening match. However, Hunter would have preferred if there had been a clear reason for ‘change’ to take place.
He wrote on X: “I don’t want to say this for the players, but I wish England had lost to France and Scotland so we’d all be talking about a change and not waiting until after the next Rugby World Cup.”
Hunter was responding to a column by 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood, who says England play “no rugby” under Borthwick. Greenwood says his team-mates would not have been celebrating had they produced the performance that England did against Scotland.
“England were outscored by three tries to one, at home, with a wonderful scrum and line-out, in the best conditions you will ever experience for a February rugby match. Sixteen paltry points. They simply play no rugby,” the 52-year-old wrote for the .
“I’m all for kicking for territory and playing in the right areas but this was overkill. The first instinct is to kick – twice with an overlap, on turnover ball – rather than look to play. The try tally was a damning indictment of the attacking capabilities of this England side.
“I was part of a side that beat France at Twickenham in the 2003 Six Nations and it was the boot of Jonny Wilkinson that bailed us out.
Ian Hunter wanted England to lose against France and Scotland (Image: Getty)
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“We were also outscored by three tries to one that day but the difference between the two was that for us it was not a performance to be celebrated. Conservatism and attacking clunkiness are becoming hallmarks of this English side.”
Borthwick defended his side’s performance against Scotland, claiming they won a “tactical arm-wrestle”.
“I’m delighted in the last two games the endings have gone our way,” the England head coach said. “In many ways it wasn’t pretty and there are things we want to do better but, ultimately, we kept our composure and found a way to win the game.
“We were very good in attack against France but today Scotland brought a very smart tactical plan and had ascendancy in the first half. In the second half the players figured it out and found a way to get ahead on the scoreboard.
“It was very difficult to play against and a very different type of game, which is great for this young side. The guys found a way to win a tactical arm-wrestle.”