After losing another game they should have won, England need fresh impetus if they are to avoid a dismal autumn
Let’s kick off with some good news. The Twickenham experience has been a slightly variable one in recent years but the vibe inside the now-retitled stadium on Saturday was a considerable improvement. A deep rumbling bass shook the concrete stands, adding to the thunderous feel of the whole occasion. And broadcasting the referee’s musings over the public address – why has that taken so long? – was unquestionably a welcome development, too.
The positives do not stop there. What a dramatic endgame it was. And how skilfully New Zealand prised open the coffin lid having seemed all but dead and buried. If the match-turning try by Mark Tele’a with four minutes left was a stunning intervention, what about the towering touchline conversion from Damian McKenzie which ended up separating the two teams? How good was Wallace Sititi? This was not a match defined wholly by missed opportunities.
Written by Robert Kitson
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/03/steve-borthwicks-england-must-stop-hiding-and-face-a-few-home-truths under the title “Steve Borthwick’s England must stop hiding and face a few home truths | Robert Kitson”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
