The major weakness holding ‘No 2 in the world’ England back

Detailed summary

Steve Borthwick claims England would be just about the best side on the planet if they did not keep getting penalised so much ...

But plenty of thought and consideration will also be given to the man with a whistle, and the little rectangle of yellow in his pocket that has been England’s downfall so often in the last 12 months.

Head coach Steve Borthwick has been grumbling that the domestic game in England is officiated differently from the internationals. “A valid point,” says refereeing legend Nigel Owens, but one that is the same for every Test team and “there will be no surprises” when England kick off their autumn against Australia on Sunday.

Complaints of his side’s lack of discipline are coming at Borthwick from all angles, with everyone from the RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney to current and ex-England players publicly on his case about it.

Sweeney said in midweek that Borthwick had told him England are ranked second in the world when they have the full 15 men on the field and “eighth or ninth” when they are…

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