Legendary All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen has identified the departure of Andrew Strawbridge as a pivotal loss for England Rugby, correlating it with their recent struggles on the field. This insight came after England suffered a 45-21 defeat to the Springboks at Ellis Park in the Nations Championship, marking their fifth consecutive loss following an unprecedented poor performance in the Six Nations. This downturn follows a previously impressive 12-game winning streak, highlighting a stark contrast in form.
Hansen, who led the All Blacks to consecutive Rugby World Cup victories, shared his thoughts on the Rugby Unity podcast, highlighting the significant impact Strawbridge had on the team. "Well, I think they’ve gone backwards a little bit since they let Andrew Strawbridge go," Hansen remarked. He noted that the finesse in skills like ball handling and short-passing, which were prominent 12 to 18 months ago, seemed to have diminished. "I thought their understanding and their skill – little nuances within the skill of their ball carry, their catch-pass, their short-passing game – 12 to 18 months ago was really good. I think some of that’s gone and they’re a bit clunky," he added.
"You look at the losses and discipline problems, and they’re contributing massively. They’ve got to sort that out."
Joining the discussion, former Wallabies head coach Ewen McKenzie echoed Hansen's sentiments, suggesting that the absence of Strawbridge might be a simpler explanation for England's faltering performance. "I agree with Steve 100%," McKenzie said. "England were outstanding 12 months ago in terms of their ability to play a total game. They had seemed to have it all in their grasp, and it’s interesting what he says about Strawbridge not being there."
Furthermore, McKenzie criticized the current selection strategy under coach Steve Borthwick, indicating it may not align well with the dynamic style of play previously exhibited. "They keep drifting back, and maybe that’s a coaching thing," he observed, pointing out the shift towards a more conservative approach despite having players capable of playing expansively.
As England looks to recover from their slump, their next challenge lies in South America against Felipe Contepomi's Los Pumas, who are also rebounding from a recent defeat to Scotland. Meanwhile, the Springboks prepare to host Scotland at Loftus Versfeld in their upcoming fixture.