Clearly England needed to change from the stagnant dross and endless media-baiting nonsense that Jones served up. I wasn't sure that Borthwick was the answer but given how impressively he turned Tigers fortunes around I was prepared to give him a chance. I can't say he endeared himself when one of the first things he did was retain OF at skipper meaning he is nailed on as a starter. He is not the best English fly half by some measure and as many have mentioned his kicking stats are slipping.
Whilst there was noticeable improvement yesterday, particularly defensively and at set piece, there were still tactical and selection issues that I just don't understand. It was clearly a pre-meditated tactic to kick behind at every opportunity. it yielded precisely sod-all, a decent skipper would have realised that there was a better chance of scoring by holding on to the bloody ball rather than kicking it straight back to the opposition back 3, particularly when one of them is Capuozzo, just ask Welsh fans how wise that is.
Please tell me what Borthwick sees in Dombrandt, if you want to talk about test match animals, he isn't one. Another who is outstanding for his club but just isn't up to the standard for International rugby. He was marginally better yesterday but having given Jack Willis a start and been rewarded with an outstanding performance- I thought he was unlucky not to get Man of the Match- why not give his brother Tom a try?
The most embarrassing selection is undoubtedly Cole and Vunipola on the bench. They are simply far too slow, end of. It was pitiful how laboured they were defensively when Italy started throwing the ball around. If it's pouring with rain and a mud bath they might warrant a place but in half decent conditions England's intensity drops off the chart when they come on, the total opposite of what your replacements should bring to the game.
France and Ireland will murder us on the evidence so far, particularly in the final quarter.