ROSEMARY ABBOTT | Sport
GOING OFF SCRIPT
In the wake of their nail-biting 24-22 defeat to the All Blacks at Twickenham, England’s coaching staff have quickly turned to serious internal matters.
Coach Steve Borthwick confirmed to our reporters that they would be taking action against winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who scored their one and only try. They are also considering sanctions against other players who didn’t stick to the game plan of kicking life-sucking drop goals to outscore the opposition.
“We drill these lads every day on the sanctity of the drop goal and 10-man rugby, and yet, some still think they can improvise,” he said, visibly frustrated at watching a replay of a well executed try that put them into the lead.
Borthwick outlined how a few players strayed from England’s life-threateningly boring brand of test rugby.
“Marcus Smith oddly decided to run the ball from 80 metres out instead of helping the team to slowly get into drop goal position, and disappointingly, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso decided to dive over the try line for a five pointer.
“Immanuel should have had the awareness to pull up short of the open try line, ten metres out, and kick an easy three points. Sticking to the team’s game plan is important.”
The All Blacks trailed 22-14 in the second half, before staging a late comeback. Damian Mckenzie converted Mark Tele’a’s try from the sideline, and a frantic finish saw the All Blacks hang on while England made multple failed drop goal attempts.
Despite the loss, coach Borthwick was pleased with replacement fly-half George Ford, who hit the post with a late penalty and then sent a drop-goal wide, missing out on another lead.
“It would have been a much more disappointing loss if we’d tried going for the try instead. So I’m pleased with a sprayed drop goal.”
More to come.
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