Steve Borthwick has defended the tactic of his England team’s substitutions, which limited Marcus Smith and Henry Arundell to less than a minute during the 20-10 victory against Wales.
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Borthwick said: “You go into the game with a concept of where you are going to go in terms of the interchanges and that game was a game that was a real arm wrestle in that second half.
“Some of the forwards in that arm wrestle, I thought they played their hearts out and I thought I needed to make those changes. Sometimes when it comes to those other aspects, you can upset the rhythm of a team if you make too many changes so that is why I held back… you make a decision as a coach on what you feel and what you see and I decided at that point it wasn’t right to make those changes.”
Asked about their likely frustrations over getting a cap that lasted just seconds, he added: “All the players are desperate to play. That is a testament to them.
“I said this a few times, we are trying to build a squad of players that is always working towards the team being at the forefront helping the team to prepare.
“Sometimes your role is to start, sometimes your role is to come off the bench, sometimes your role is to support the team as 24th and 25th man.
“I asked the players whatever their role is to do it with everything they can to help this team improve.”
Three players Steve Borthwick should drop – and who should replace them for France
England heaped more misery on troubled Wales with a scrappy Six Nations victory in Cardiff.
Nevertheless, Steve Borthwick’s side were far from perfect with a number of player coming under fire.
#1. Owen Farrell
Telegraph 5/10: “Farrell is a phenomenal talent but the skipper did not enjoy his best of days. Missed kicks, charge-downs – but the competitive venom was never in question.”
Guardian 5/10: “Charged down by Faletau early on but shrugged that off well. Goal-kicking was poor, not for the first time this championship.”
Planet Rugby 4/10: “Poor, poor, poor. It’s hard to justify his place in the team at the moment. Kicking off the tee was once again abysmal and his decision-making and execution was completely off. “
Evening Standard. 6/10: “Curiously off-kilter off the tee but dragged England home through sheer bloody-mindedness.”
Replacement: Marcus Smith
