England's Six Nations was a total mystery — from a shock loss to Italy to a 94-point thriller in Paris. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
In the first breakdown in our miniseries, regarding the upcoming Nations Championship Test that the Springboks will be participating in later this year, Mike Greenaway looks at the enigma that has become England.
As Steve Borthwick’s men prepare for the Boks, they arrive as a side that defies both logic and their current world ranking.
Fresh from a Six Nations campaign that statistically marked their worst-ever return, England have plummeted down the world rankings. Yet, the version of the "Red Roses" that nearly toppled France in a 48-46 thriller in Paris is exactly what will keep Rassie Erasmus awake at night.
World Ranking: Sixth | Six Nations finish: Fifth | Nations Cup fixture v South Africa: July 4 in Johannesburg
How England fans would love to have Sherlock Holmes alive and well and investigating the great mystery of their team’s Jekyll and Hyde performances. An enduring peculiarity of a magnificent Six Nations tournament was the Red Rose army’s capitulation in the middle stages after starting strongly enough against Wales (48-7).
This was the England team that won 11 in a row, and still fresh in mind were the convincing victories last November over Argentina and New Zealand. But at Murrayfield, England had no response when the Bravehearts pulled out their broadswords.
Stranger still was their next game, at their home fortress of Twickenham against Ireland. Where their fans had been expecting a backlash to Murrayfield, there was again a no-show as the Irish won 42-21.
Worse was to come — a horror first-time loss to Italy in Rome. That put coach Steve Borthwick in the firing line, but in a “Hey Presto!” performance in Paris, the Red Roses were transformed and unlucky to lose 48-46.
The interesting thing for watching South Africans is that when England don’t try and be too clever, when they are written off and simply go out and give it a lash, they can be brilliant. Their seventh try was breathtaking in its execution — they stormed through 10 irresistible phases before outside centre Tommy Freeman cruised over.
This type of score bore no resemblance to the stumbling, unsure, ill-disciplined rubbish that they delivered against Scotland, Ireland, and Italy.
Rassie Erasmus will have noted this England finale with concern. He knew England had too many excellent players and too much experience, to not at last work out how they should play. Erasmus will also have seen how the England forwards got on top of a strong French pack in the set scrums.
However, the Bok coach will also have mentally jotted down how fragile England’s composure was across the tournament when they were put under the blowtorch, despite having so many experienced campaigners.
Yes, Wiese is a starter and Pollock a finisher but the eighthmen’s paths will clash at some point.
They could not be more contrasting — one is a mobile railway sleeper, the other a Tik Tok dancer. When they do bump into each other, I know who my money will be on.
On Wednesday | Springboks in their sights: Can Finn Russell’s magic overcome Bok depth?