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<blockquote data-quote="Leonormous Boozer" data-source="post: 1215119" data-attributes="member: 45598">Half watched it back yesterday and it did feel like the 3rd and 4th best teams in the comp playing under a lot of external pressure. Scotland blew a chance of a good win, England to their credit did well to give themselves a chamce to nick a game that could have, and probably should have, gotten away from them again. I think the massive disconnent from England fans is understandable to a degree but also maybe ignoring that they&#039;ve successfully reached stage 1 of progress following last year. They&#039;re winning close games, relying on a bit of luck but also look a lot more streetwise against good teams. Borthwick seems obsessed with a fluid attack but defence is the next step, conceding 3 / 4 tries every game and being under considerable pressure from attacks starting in an opponent&#039;s own half won&#039;t win championships. Better D leads to better attacking platforms and makes that task easier too. Overall, progress doesn&#039;t come quick at this level and there&#039;s more signs this year than last year. A stagnant 2024 leaves Borthwick and England chasing the pack and they probably all have stronger coaching teams so easy to have a grim outlook but for better or worse, Steve has hit his KPIs for this test window in the last two rounds and has 4/5 games to develop things elsewhere before a tricky autumn window.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Leonormous Boozer, post: 1215119, member: 45598"] Half watched it back yesterday and it did feel like the 3rd and 4th best teams in the comp playing under a lot of external pressure. Scotland blew a chance of a good win, England to their credit did well to give themselves a chamce to nick a game that could have, and probably should have, gotten away from them again. I think the massive disconnent from England fans is understandable to a degree but also maybe ignoring that they've successfully reached stage 1 of progress following last year. They're winning close games, relying on a bit of luck but also look a lot more streetwise against good teams. Borthwick seems obsessed with a fluid attack but defence is the next step, conceding 3 / 4 tries every game and being under considerable pressure from attacks starting in an opponent's own half won't win championships. Better D leads to better attacking platforms and makes that task easier too. Overall, progress doesn't come quick at this level and there's more signs this year than last year. A stagnant 2024 leaves Borthwick and England chasing the pack and they probably all have stronger coaching teams so easy to have a grim outlook but for better or worse, Steve has hit his KPIs for this test window in the last two rounds and has 4/5 games to develop things elsewhere before a tricky autumn window. [/QUOTE]

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