Last chance saloon for Borth-tit

Such a pity. He was going so well and then abandoned the girl that brought him to the dance.

I have no idea why he decided to so radically change the way England play. The Boks are far more talented. I think we'd probably only take Marcus Smith and Pollock if we could. I'd take Earl too but that's a preference thing.

Point is, even though we clearly have a far superior side, We made changes to our game gradually.

Borthwick decided to change things up overnight and then immediately lost confidence in players when it didn't work.

I'm not sure why he even wanted to change what was working. It's not like his team are a bunch of toppies that are all retiring soon. Which is probably why Rassie started changing things up for the Boks - the Eden Park game being the final validation of his decision to shift and the Wellington game being the confirmation that he was on the right path.

So this weekend is kind last chance saloon for him. Sucks for the guy because I think he was don the fight track but ended up screwing himself over.

Let's hope England get up and beat France and that Scotland can deliver against Ireland.

Please, Ireland, pick the Pretender this weekend.

Lots of the English fans aren't on board with Marcus either, so I have no sympathy. Their loss, let them wallow in the likes of Ford and Fin who can't set fire to a patch of dried grass with a flamethrower.

By all means, England should be peaking right now. They had not to long ago around 2017 - 2018 the most dominant age group players to come through and won a few under 20 titles. If history is anything to go by, this is normally a precursor of what is to come. The best names from those tournaments tend to translate to World Cup winners. NZ had won the most but SA is now making a comeback which is great news.

France is the other country who is showing promise but both teams are mired in Club rugby and how the game is operated at that level. Young players don't find a real home and they start falling apart.

On Marcus Smith, he had AE on his inside which also coincide with Harlequins being so dominant in the Prem. Right now the only decent Prem team is Bath and Northampton, but Northampton fielding the most talent in Fin Smith, Roebuck, Pollock/ I think they have about 5 world class players which is rare.

Instead, Borthers has gone for Ford and some of the old guys and reluctant to mix it up.

He is also a one trick pony. Did that Irish coach that was in the bok setup leave for England and then abodoned ship soon after arriving and said the whole place was a joke.

I just don't think they have the calibre or people in the right place over at England HQ to really build a proper test team or squad.

England need to take a leaf out of Rassies and Irelands book on how to manage talent and bring them through.

I would look at those youth players and try to get them into a couple of teams instead of them playing 1 in each of the prem teams. Maybe one focus on a proper English pack and the other a backline. It is easier for test teams when players come from fewer teams.

However, Rassie has found a way to make it work but players are now in his system from age group, they go to URC franchises and when they get a bit older and a few bok caps they can go abroad with Rassies blessing knowing that they will be welcome back. Even if they are not a bok like Kolbe, but played in SA for a number of years the door is still open.

Where as with young players that leave straight of school won't have a chance, no matter how good they are abroad.

How does one not back Marcus Smith???

Perhaps I've been lucky but I'm yet to watch him in a game and not see clearance breaking ability.

Crazy not to pick him.

Much like Sacha, those are the guys you build teams around.