Ambition is rarely a word used to describe this incarnation of England’s rugby team. Steve Borthwick’s men were criticised in 2023 because they packed ambition in and replaced it with grinding, error-free rugby, and ultimately successful pragmatism.
In 2025, they shifted away from that approach which won matches but few fans and decided success could come from an attacking style.
Wins against Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand followed. But that run dramatically hit the buffers during the Six Nations when England lost to everyone bar Wales. On Saturday, they weren’t ever in the match as South Africa galloped to an early 17-0 lead.
They handed England some hope towards the end of the first half but it was ultimately forlorn as the world champions cruised to a 45-21 victory.
Now England face another reckoning as Borthwick, who clung to power in a post-Six Nations review, looks to be on the hot seat once more.
What a start from the Springboks! Nche somehow evades the tackle and gets South Africa into a perfect position. The ball is then spread out to Kolbe, and do we need to say any more? pic.twitter.com/tJRt06qHEm
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026George Furbank was selected as full-back for England in a shift which suggested ambition was back.
However, the former Northampton Saints captain never ended up taking the field in the Nations Championship opener and was left nursing an appendicitis as Marcus Smith took the No 15 jersey.
Smith was an even more aggressive option as he looked to form a playmaking axis with his namesake, fly-half Fin. The Smiths are the modern attacking options, players who can skip around contact just as much as they can fizz a pass into the path of a teammate who has charged into space.
But their limitations and England’s inability to set them up for success were clear in the 63rd minute. Marcus took a bouncing high-ball under huge pressure and fed it back to Fin, who was immediately dropped by the charging Bok forwards. The two decision-makers, chief attackers, and entertainers-in-chief reduced to little more than caretakers left to mop up errors.
The issue England have is that they are unable to win matches when they are not physically dominating. It’s not just an England issue. Winning matches when you are on the back foot is a challenge for every single team.
The answer is simple – go around, not through. Tip passes between forwards get smaller runners in the gaps outside of dominant tacklers, fleet-footed backs get immobile sumo forwards moving sideways and tired out of the game; ask any coach at any level and they will tell you that. The problem is South Africa know that and, worse, they are arguably more skillful than their counterparts, not just bigger.
Phase after phase…After 21 phases and two penalty advantages, Grant Williams, with a clever pick-and-go, gets over for the try. That's a bonus point for the Springboks pic.twitter.com/eG1CHFUsNe
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026Let’s go back to the full-back discussion. Furbank and Marcus Smith are what the people want. They want skill, they want pace, they want excitement.
The South African players and coaches also wanted that. They wanted someone they could drop high balls on all afternoon. Most teams now defend with their full-back and fly-half deep consistently rather than the now old-fashioned winger pendulum.
This means that whether Marcus Smith plays at 10 or 15, he is essentially doing the same job defensively. The difference is that Marcus Smith at 15 would have a full-back alongside to puncture the high-ball pressure. With the two Smiths in the backfield, there is no pressure relief.
Remember how you beat those powerful bullies, go around not through. If you’re in possession in your own half, you want to kick to space and make the men who don’t like running turn around. As England found in their first Nations Championship match, the theory and the reality are very different.
When South Africa were in their own half, they simply kicked skywards, chased hard, and turned the screw. When they won the ball through chaotic slapbacks they had two of the best in the world at exploiting broken field in Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. While England had to go around, South Africa could go through and around.
"Not a step back, but not a step in the direction England fans want"@dannycare assesses where it went wrong for England today pic.twitter.com/2B1fmWWbWi
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) July 4, 2026The two moments where England showed how their approach could be successful were the two first-half tries through Ellis Genge and George Martin. Head down, both looked like they were running downhill. For the rest of the game, the pack looked like they were running uphill at altitude.
What is the solution? Fiji and Argentina await, two teams where England can show ambition. But long-term, England either need to develop power or pick players to diffuse it.
One option is the oft-lamented Freddie Steward. Steward is the right man at the wrong time. England fans watch the free-running Bath and Northampton sides and ask for more of that in a white jersey.
Steward is the vaccine which keeps you safe. The combination of Ollie Chessum and Martin might not get hearts a-fluttering but they are the players you need to turn to if you want to punch a rose shaped hole in the Springboks. Henry Pollock probably doesn’t have a place if Ben Earl is starting.
These are ugly truths and the next challenge is convincing the fans this is what is needed.
Hence then, the article about the unpopular choice who can make england win again was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The unpopular choice who can make England win again )
Also on site :