England rugby to persist with lateral thinking as Henry Pollock and Ben Earl spread their wings

LONDON – Coach Steve Borthwick said England will continue with innovative tactics such as back-rowers deployed in the centre and on the wing following his rugby team’s 48-7 rout of Wales in the Six Nations on Feb 7.

Fly-half George Ford staked a strong claim for the England No. 10 shirt with a clinical display with rival Fin Smith injured and his namesake Marcus relegated to the bench.

“I am loving my rugby and enjoying doing my job for the team. The environment, the squad, team and coaches, I am loving it,” he said.

Borthwick said the side’s blend of veterans such as Ford, 32, and Jamie George, 35, with younger talents coming through had shown England’s developing strength.

“If you’ve got that then these youngsters trying to bring the energy they bring, that's a great mix,” he said.

In contrast to the 100-cap Ford was winger Henry Arundell, recently recalled to the side having fallen from favour since the 2023 World Cup and a stint in France.

The evasive winger impressed with a first-half hat-trick that showcased his speed, positional sense and side-stepping ability, albeit he will have harder finishes than the two put on a plate for him by Ford.

Ben Earl, Tom Roebuck and Tommy Freeman also crossed the line for England, with Josh Adams scoring Wales’ sole try.

“He has been brilliant, he reminds me of Jonny May with his diligence and preparation, the way he’s gone away and developed so many different areas of his game,” George said of Arundell.

Another England tyro, 21-year-old flanker Henry Pollock, exemplified coach Borthwick’s more experimental side of late as he appeared on the wing in the latter stages of the game. That followed an earlier shift and more familiar shift for No. 8 Earl to the centres, a ploy which Borthwick said he will continue to use.

“He did a good job there, it’s particularly effective late game when you’re up on the scoreboard, you’ve got the opposition trying to use the ball in hand more and suddenly you've got four back rows on the field,” Borthwick said.

England will face tougher tests ahead as they bid for a first title since the Covid-19-hit 2020 season, with champions France looking in ominous touch after their opening drubbing of Ireland.

Powerful centre Ollie Lawrence trained well after recovering from injury and could be in contention for England’s next match away to Scotland, Borthwick said.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, meanwhile, admitted that there will be more pressure on him after his side’s disappointing performance

in losing 18-15 to Italy

in Rome on Feb 7.

Townsend, who had denied a report in a British newspaper that he is destined to take over as coach of ambitious Premiership Rugby club Newcastle Red Bulls in 2027, said he was standing by his team.

“Pressure, of course there is, it is part of the game,” he told the BBC.

“Of course there’ll be criticism for the result and the performance.

“I’m with my team. I was hugely proud of the effort they put in at the end, trying to find a way to win.” REUTERS