England are aiming to overcome their recent autumn setbacks by defeating South Africa this Saturday, and have pledged to maintain their aggressive approach against the reigning world champions. Consecutive losses to New Zealand and Australia have dropped Steve Borthwick's team to seventh in the world rankings, but the players remain confident they can defy expectations and turn their fortunes around.
Rather than abandoning the high-risk defensive system that has allowed eight tries in two games this month, England plans to intensify their aggression on and off the ball in their first rematch against the Springboks since last year's heartbreaking World Cup semi-final defeat. In Paris over a year ago, England relied on a limited kicking strategy against the Boks, which nearly led to a remarkable victory. This time, however, they intend to stick with their recently adopted blitz defensive system and challenge South Africa both offensively and defensively.
The Springboks' formidable pack may have other plans, but England believes now is not the time to retreat or engage in a futile struggle with the world's top-ranked side. "We are not going to shut up shop and deviate from our game plan," stated Henry Slade, a pivotal defensive leader in England's midfield. "We have a specific way we want to play each week, tailored to each opponent, but we also have our own identity in how we want to attack and defend."
There is also the practical consideration that England does not have enough time, amidst the Autumn Nations Series, to completely overhaul their defensive structure. The players have acknowledged that they need to significantly improve their inconsistent performance against Australia. "Our discipline wasn't good... it felt like Australia had an advantage most of the time," Slade noted. "This allows teams to make offloads and move the ball in ways they normally wouldn't. It keeps the ball in play, making it difficult for defenses to set up, and you're always playing catch-up."
A disjointed defensive line also hindered their efforts. "If one or two players rush forward and another doesn't, there's a real disconnect, and at this level, teams exploit that. We are working to ensure everyone is on the same page." England has also recognized that they lost too many physical battles against the Wallabies, giving their opponents crucial momentum. Over the years, they have often performed better when under pressure, and Slade is hopeful for a similar outcome on Saturday, despite the absence of injured players Tom Curry and Manny Feyi-Waboso.
"So far, we've had two frustrating results, but if a few things had gone differently in either game, we'd be looking at two fantastic outcomes and everyone would be praising our autumn performance. On the surface, two losses aren't good, especially with the double World Cup winners next. It's not an ideal situation.
"But we feel we've made some good progress as a group over the last four weeks and are looking forward to a big challenge on Saturday. You can't change the past; it's all about getting excited for what's ahead. It's a huge task, and we're eager to get started."
Mike McTighe, the chair of Telegraph Media Group, has been appointed chair of the new men's Professional Rugby Board (PRB), comprising representatives from the Rugby Football Union, Premiership Rugby, and the Rugby Players Association. He will be joined by two independent non-executive directors, Rachel Baillache and Ged Roddy.
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