England must develop their composure as Steve Borthwick revamps his bench Head coach Steve Borthwick recognizes the need for improved game management in the closing stages, particularly after England's recent narrow defeat to Australia. The team's lineups are starting to resemble complex puzzles, raising the question: can they finish strong? England has suffered a series of close losses, prompting scrutiny of the bench as a reflection of the coach's strategy for upcoming matches. Following the disappointing performance against New Zealand, Borthwick felt compelled to make changes. Aside from a minor adjustment of switching the jersey numbers of his two centres, the most significant alterations are among the substitutes. The previous 6-2 bench split has been replaced with a more traditional 5-3 configuration, now featuring Luke Cowan-Dickie and Ollie Sleightholme. As England prepares for their next challenge, the focus will be on maintaining composure and executing their game plan effectively in the crucial final moments.

Steve Borthwick has chosen to maintain continuity in his first autumn England team selection, making only four changes to the starting lineup ahead of the match against New Zealand. His strategy includes a forward-heavy bench, indicating a desire for a robust and dynamic performance. As the nation anticipates the outcome, Borthwick faces significant decisions that could have lasting implications. While some may view his selections as a forward-thinking approach aimed at future development, others might see it as a cautious strategy in preparation for a challenging series of matches. In making these choices, Borthwick has had to make some difficult calls. Notably, Sam Underhill, who has had memorable performances against New Zealand in the past, has been left out of the matchday squad entirely. Similarly, Fin Smith, who was expected to emerge as a key player at fly-half, has also been omitted from the lineup. Overall, Borthwick's selections reflect a blend of continuity and a focus on speed and intensity, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting encounter.

Joe El-Abd has taken the reins as England's new defence coach, succeeding Felix Jones, and he has made it clear that his approach will focus on evolution rather than a complete overhaul. El-Abd, who has a long-standing relationship with head coach Steve Borthwick, emphasized that while he respects the existing strategies, he will be moving away from the "B-word" terminology that has been used in the camp. Following a tumultuous summer for the England team, which saw the departures of Jones, Aled Walters, and Tom Tombleson from the coaching staff, Borthwick turned to El-Abd, a trusted colleague of 26 years. In his initial training camp, El-Abd highlighted the values of loyalty and commitment, indicating that he intends to build on the promising aspects of Jones's blitz defence strategy rather than discard it entirely. El-Abd's focus will be on refining and enhancing the existing framework, ensuring that the team continues to progress while maintaining the core principles that have shown success in recent matches.