England Rugby Team for 2023 World Cup: Steve Borthwick believes players were prematurely underestimated

Rugby World Cup Preview: England’s Determination

As the Rugby World Cup approaches, England’s head coach Steve Borthwick dismisses early judgments on his team and emphasizes their resilience in the face of adversity. Despite a challenging build-up, including three warm-up match defeats and several key player injuries and suspensions, Borthwick believes that these setbacks have only made them stronger.

England is set to open their campaign against Argentina in Marseille this Saturday. The players are eager to prove themselves after feeling underestimated by critics who prematurely wrote them off. According to Borthwick, there is a sense among the squad that people have already given up on them too soon; a decision he deems premature.

A Formidable Challenge

Injuries have ravaged the squad with starting scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet and winger Anthony Watson ruled out for the entire tournament due to unfortunate injuries. Furthermore, influential figures Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola will be absent from the crucial clash against Argentina due to suspensions.

Nonetheless, despite these setbacks, Borthwick expects all remaining players in the squad to be available for selection when he announces his team later this week. The coach firmly maintains that they had been building towards September 9th as their target date since day one; nothing has changed.

Determination Amidst Setbacks

The challenges faced both on and off-field haven’t dampened England’s spirits. Borthwick confidently asserts that his players thrive on challenges, and this tournament will be no exception. The defeat to Fiji has sparked open and honest conversations within the team, encouraging each player to speak their mind.

Farrell, who is serving a suspension for two pool matches following an appeal hearing after receiving a red card against Wales last month, expressed his frustration but remains focused on moving forward. He accepts the mistake made during that fateful moment and looks ahead with optimism.

A Belief in Team Capability

The England squad holds immense confidence in their collective abilities. They firmly believe that they have what it takes to turn things around swiftly when faced with adversity. Despite recent losses, there is a positive atmosphere surrounding their preparations leading up to Saturday’s showdown.

With a highly anticipated match held at a prestigious stadium awaiting them, Farrell expresses his desire to be part of the action alongside his teammates. Overcoming hurdles together is what fuels their determination.

Schedule:

• Saturday, September 9: England vs Argentina (Stade de Marseille), 20:00
• Sunday, September 17: England vs Japan (Stade de Nice), 20:00
• Saturday, September 23: England vs Chile (Stade Pierre-Mauroy Lille),16:45
• Saturday October 7: England vs Samoa (Stade Pierre-Mauroy Lille),16:45