Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, England's dynamic winger, has caught the attention of former All Blacks fly-half Nick Evans. Evans, now deeply entrenched in the English rugby scene with Harlequins and a previous stint in Steve Borthwick's coaching squad, voices a rare concern for his homeland's team as they face a resurgent England squad. Under Borthwick, England has evolved into a formidable squad, currently riding a nine-game winning streak and showcasing a newfound versatility since their last clash with New Zealand.
On the GBR podcast, Evans didn't mince words about the upcoming showdown at Allianz Stadium.
"I'll be honest and get off the fence. I'm a little bit worried,"
he stated, acknowledging England's rising confidence and cohesiveness. Despite New Zealand's narrow victories in recent matches against England, all by seven points or less, Evans highlighted the persistent discipline issues plaguing Scott Robertson’s team.
"When we get under pressure, we tend to compound that by giving away a yellow card. At this level, yellow cards are brutal,"
Evans explained, stressing the impact of such penalties.
Additionally, the absence of Jordie Barrett, a key figure in New Zealand’s backline, poses another challenge for the All Blacks. Evans pointed out Barrett's importance not just as a crash ball runner but also as a leadership figure. With him sidelined, the team must rely heavily on other players like Wallace Sititi and Ardie Savea to step up.
Evans did express some optimism despite the concerns.
"I think it’ll be a good game. I say I’m worried, but I still think New Zealand have got enough to get over the line. It’ll be close, a flip of the coin,"
he predicted, expecting a tight contest determined by a handful of critical plays.
Reflecting on England's progression under Borthwick, Evans praised the coach's initial focus on making the team tough to defeat. With that foundation in place, Borthwick has started to "loosen up a bit more," allowing the team to expand their play and express themselves on the field. This evolution marks a significant shift from their earlier, more restrained style, opening up exciting possibilities for England's game plan and strategy going forward.
As the teams prepare to face off, the rugby world will be watching closely to see if England's strategic enhancements will be enough to challenge the traditionally dominant All Blacks or if New Zealand can maintain their narrow edge in this high-stakes encounter.
2,193 posts
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, England's dynamic winger, has caught the attention of former All Blacks fly-half Nick Evans. Evans, now deeply entrenched in the English rugby scene with Harlequins and a previous stint in Steve Borthwick's coaching squad, voices a rare concern for his homeland's team as they face a resurgent England squad. Under Borthwick, England has evolved into a formidable squad, currently riding a nine-game winning streak and showcasing a newfound versatility since their last clash with New Zealand.
On the GBR podcast, Evans didn't mince words about the upcoming showdown at Allianz Stadium.
"I'll be honest and get off the fence. I'm a little bit worried,"
he stated, acknowledging England's rising confidence and cohesiveness. Despite New Zealand's narrow victories in recent matches against England, all by seven points or less, Evans highlighted the persistent discipline issues plaguing Scott Robertson’s team."When we get under pressure, we tend to compound that by giving away a yellow card. At this level, yellow cards are brutal,"
Evans explained, stressing the impact of such penalties.Additionally, the absence of Jordie Barrett, a key figure in New Zealand’s backline, poses another challenge for the All Blacks. Evans pointed out Barrett's importance not just as a crash ball runner but also as a leadership figure. With him sidelined, the team must rely heavily on other players like Wallace Sititi and Ardie Savea to step up.
Evans did express some optimism despite the concerns.
"I think it’ll be a good game. I say I’m worried, but I still think New Zealand have got enough to get over the line. It’ll be close, a flip of the coin,"
he predicted, expecting a tight contest determined by a handful of critical plays.Reflecting on England's progression under Borthwick, Evans praised the coach's initial focus on making the team tough to defeat. With that foundation in place, Borthwick has started to "loosen up a bit more," allowing the team to expand their play and express themselves on the field. This evolution marks a significant shift from their earlier, more restrained style, opening up exciting possibilities for England's game plan and strategy going forward.
As the teams prepare to face off, the rugby world will be watching closely to see if England's strategic enhancements will be enough to challenge the traditionally dominant All Blacks or if New Zealand can maintain their narrow edge in this high-stakes encounter.