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Steve Borthwick is not known for mind games, but England’s head coach is dabbling with the dark arts as he seeks to keep the heat and glare on New Zealand and off his players.
England flew to Auckland on Sunday to regroup and review after their one-point defeat here on Saturday, before the build-up to the series finale at Eden Park.
A close encounter at Forsyth Barr Stadium saw the All Blacks seal a tense victory, which seemingly shifted some pressure away from Scott Robertson’s new regime and on to the tourists. But Borthwick is determined to shift it back again.
He has a reputation for detail, diligence and technical expertise, but showed a glimpse of the psychological side of the game more often linked with Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland.
He sought to emphasise that New Zealand are the team carrying the burden and, as they are now 1-0 up heading to Eden Park where the All Blacks have not lost for 30 years, he has a point.
Steve Borthwick believes all the pressure is the All Blacks ahead of the series decider
‘They have a very experienced team with nearly 1,000 caps and on average are two years older than us,’ said Borthwick, in a bid to reinforce the image of his side as underdogs. ‘They’ll be frustrated and disappointed with some aspects they had against us, a brave team.
‘They will improve and I expect us to improve, but the expectation will be on New Zealand. They’ve said they’ll be better next week and they are playing at Eden Park, so the expectation is all on them.’
That was not the full extent of the pressure equation. There was also a more literal, physical kind of pressure. England’s hard- hitting blitz defence caused trouble for the All Blacks and, according to Borthwick, forced them to adapt their game.
‘We will push the line speed as hard as we can,’ he said on Sunday, despite several missed tackles dampening the impact of the swarming approach orchestrated by Felix Jones. ‘We want to put the opposition under pressure.
‘I haven’t seen a New Zealand team play like that very often. Whether that is the way they want to play, I don’t know.’
That was another pointed remark apparently designed to get into the Kiwis’ heads, another sign of Borthwick exerting himself beyond the normal confines of training-ground and meeting-room graft and meticulous analysis.
England came up short in Dunedin on Saturday but can make up for it next weekend
He is seeking to shape the agenda and narrative around this series and, if that has a one per cent impact on England’s hopes of salvation, it is worthwhile.
The flipside is about diverting pressure off his team and that is a key priority, too. Reinforcing their status as outsiders here is one method — playing down any shortcomings is another.
With that in mind, Borthwick was not about to wallow in frustration about Marcus Smith’s three missed kicks which might have cost England the game. He stood up for his playmaker, with minimal fuss.
‘Damian McKenzie missed some kicks yesterday as well and he is an incredible goal kicker,’ he said. ‘It happens. Marcus produced some moments of absolute class. He put Manny (Feyi-Waboso) in for his try and was excellent in so many ways. He defended tough as well.
‘I don’t want the players to dwell. I want them to learn lessons, then move on very fast. That’s what Marcus will do and what all the players will do. We go through a lot more of what they did well.’
There will be no rash reactions to an agonising setback. Gone are the days of mass changes at the first sign of trouble. Borthwick cannot vouch for the benefits of stability and continuity, then change the conductor and expect a classic tune days later.
Back Smith to go again, with Kevin Sinfield rejoining the camp in midweek to provide reassurance and support.
England have a big mental challenge to confront now — end-of-season syndrome. Can they dredge up peak intensity once more, in line with captain Jamie George’s talk about having a choice to make?
They can either clock off early after missing out on a big chance to make history, or defy expectations by doing something special in the second Test.
And it would be special. It would be epic. Last week, the consensus was that England could win the opener by catching the hosts off guard, but would be doomed in Auckland, where visiting teams’ dreams go to die.
Maro Itoje will be required to make one last herculean effort after his thunderous performance in New Zealand’s far south.
When Robertson was asked to explain the All Blacks’ lineout problems, he paused and said: ‘Maro.’ Borthwick called him ‘exceptional’ and he certainly was. The Saracens lock has experienced Eden Park with the Lions and will go there with a bullish belief.
‘I’ve been watching Sprint on Netflix — it’s like Drive to Survive — about athletics,’ said Itoje. ‘They always say, “Records are meant to be broken”.
‘New Zealand have an impressive record there and the task for us is to break it. They’re a good team but they are just a team. Unfortunately, we fell short here, but the plan next week is to turn that around.’
Somehow, England have to improve faster than opponents who are still in transition at the start of a new era. New Zealand will make strides, no doubt, so can England do the same?
Borthwick has said he wants his team to be the fastest learners in world rugby and they will need to be now, without Joe Marler in the front row, as he has been ruled out with a foot injury.
Nothing has altered the sense that the national team are heading in the right direction. They could and should have won for only the third time against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
There was honour in narrow defeat. But if England are to re-emerge as a global force, losing gallantly is not sufficient.
The wait goes on for a statement win away from home. Beating Ireland at Twickenham in March was Borthwick’s high point.
The natural progression would be to plant a flag in the ground a long way from home — and there would be no better place to do it than Auckland.
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