It’s almost unheard of in any sporting event that the participant seeded third is the sixth favourite with the bookmakers to win.
But that’s exactly where England finds themselves at the World Cup as their feeble form in the warm-up games continues to unravel Steve Borthwick’s plans for the tournament in France.
The 22-30 reverse at the hands of Fiji – a game which England led 8-3 at the half-time interval – was their fifth defeat in six outings, as Borthwick’s wretched reign as head coach hit a new low just weeks shy of the most prestigious competition on the rugby calendar.
All-Time Low
Heading into the World Cup, the idea is to have confidence and momentum on your side as you battle through seven games to be crowned the best team on the planet.
However, England are imbued with neither of those things – hence why five teams in New Zealand (12/5), France (3/1), South Africa (4/1), Ireland (9/2) and Australia (10/1) are considered more likely winners by those who bet on sports than Borthwick’s side (11/1).
Indeed, a bet calculator reveals that a £10 wager struck on England would return £110 in profit – a sizable sum and a marker of how far their stock has fallen, given that they are perennially amongst the favourites to win the quadrennial tournament.
The Fiji defeat was a continuation of all that has gone wrong for English rugby in recent months. Largely toothless in attack, the Fijians also cut through the England defence at will, running home three tries and scoring 30 points in all.
That’s the fourth time in their last six games that England have conceded 25 points or more, while their own 22-point tally was their best return since putting 31 past Italy as long ago as February.
𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗠𝗘𝗗
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) August 27, 2023
Jonny May and Alex Mitchell are included in the squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Borthwick has called up Jonny May – who was on the scoresheet against the Pacific Islanders on his return to the international fold – and Alex Mitchell to his final World Cup squad, but the issues run so deep at both ends of the pitch that England’s woes seem almost ingrained; no one player will be able to lift the gloom that has derailed their bid for the trophy.
At this point, simply qualifying from Pool D, which contains the ever-dangerous talents of Argentina and Japan, will be an achievement in itself – proof of how far England has regressed.
Defying the Odds
Interviews given in the aftermath of recent losses by Borthwick and his players reveal a sense of defiance and belief, while Ellis Genge’s ‘write us off now, all the best’ tweet confirms that a unit that should be considered a red-hot contender for the World Cup trophy is now happy to cast themselves as a plucky underdog.
Write us off now, all the best.
— Gengey (@EllisGenge) August 27, 2023
The concession of 30 tries in their last nine games – and the fact that their opening game against Argentina comes as soon as September 9 – reveals the mammoth task that Borthwick and his defence coaching staff have in turning around England’s fortunes.
Facing the Argentines without suspended duo Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola and the likes of Anthony Watson will provide a tangible guide as to Borthwick’s work on the training pitch, although defeat in that Marseille opener would not necessarily be a disaster; in fact, it could leave England scrapping for a possible quarter-final game against Australia – thankfully, a side with as many holes as Borthwick’s men under his predecessor, Eddie Jones.
A quirk of the World Cup draw will see hosts France, New Zealand and South Africa battle it out on the same side of the bracket, which opens the door for England, Australia, Wales or even Fiji to make it to the semi-finals at the very least.
The way things have been going, England fans would surely be delighted if their side can make it to the last four against the odds…
