England fullback Freddie Steward says any criticism of the crew’s latest run needs to be on the gamers and never head coach Steve Borthwick.
England have misplaced their final 5 Check matches and have Japan coming to city on Sunday. They got here into the November collection trying to put down a marker in opposition to the southern hemisphere’s elite nations, however have misplaced to New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The final defeat was in opposition to the Springboks on Saturday, as England fell 29-20. Steward returned to the crew at fullback for the conflict, however his return was not sufficient to galvanise England to what would have been a key victory.
Borthwick stated post-match he’s assured he has the total backing of the RFU, and Steward says it needs to be the gamers who’re taking the flak for the latest run of kind, and never Borthwick.
“We nearly let him down at the moment,” Steward stated. “I do not suppose the fault ought to go to him in any respect. As gamers we had a gameplan that put us in place to win that sport — we have got to have a look at ourselves as to why we did not draw back on the finish and return forward.
“[Borthwick’s] an unbelievable coach and rugby participant. He has an awesome rugby mind, is an unbelievable motivator, man supervisor, and as gamers we imagine in all the pieces he is bringing to this crew. The fault at the moment in all probability lies in our arms. We put ourselves able to win that sport, and doubtless have been at 50-60 minutes, we have been forward, and once more we did not see it out.”
Maro Itoje echoed Steward’s sentiments. “[Borthwick’s] truthfully been incredible,” Itoje stated. “I’ve hardly ever seen a coach who has as a lot devotion as him. We have to do higher by him. We have to end off these video games.
“The workers have been sensible all through this marketing campaign. We have yet another week to go. It is on us as gamers, us as senior gamers, us as leaders to take accountability and switch this factor round.”
England are prone to shuffle issues up for Japan on Sunday, and Borthwick took in England A’s match in opposition to Australia A. He’s doubtless to provide a few the youthful gamers a go in opposition to Japan and Steward is hoping the crew will pull collectively and impress earlier than turning consideration to subsequent 12 months’s Six Nations.
“You do not wish to be in step with negativity,” Steward stated. “We’ll come again on Tuesday, overview what we have to, and assault that Japan sport. We wish to placed on a efficiency so we will depart this marketing campaign with one thing to take from it.”
Learn extra:
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– World Rugby election: Australian Brett Robinson elected chair
– France fireplace Six Nations warning as All Blacks left to ponder what might need been
– British & Irish Lions tour of Australia: Who’s trending in, out?
