If there is one thing that is true in international rugby that was just proven again this weekend, it is that England are never as good as they think they are, but also that they are never as bad as we think they are.
The old saying that a week is a long time in rugby rings doubly true for Steve Borthwick’s men in this year’s Six Nations. But if they’re looking for sympathy, they’re not going to find it around the world where England’s mindset and their press and fans have built them up into something they’re not quite close to at the moment.
Test rugby remains ruthless, and this year’s Six Nations is testament to that. Ireland were written off after a massive loss against France, stumbled through against Italy and then stunned Twickenham on Saturday with a performance that would make any coach proud.
While France gallop onwards towards the title, Scotland proved again they are the most frustrating side to watch, as they produce unbelievable highs and horrid lows - as they did in their loss against Italy and almost again this past weekend against Wales.
If not for Finn Russell’s brilliance they would have given Wales something to celebrate.
But back to England, who repeat a cycle we have seen over the years and have only themselves to blame.
ENGLAND ARE A GOOD TOURNAMENT TEAM
They had a good year last year, with Borthwick slowly building a team that looked as if it could challenge for the World Cup next year. After all, England didn't fare badly at the showpiece tournament, finalists in 2007 and 2019, and semifinalists in 2023.
They, like the Springboks, tend to be a very good tournament side, and there is no doubt if they can find what went wrong in the past fortnight, they will again - with a wonderfully lenient draw - be there again in 2027.
But after racking up 12 wins in a row - they never played the Springboks at that time - all we heard was “bring on the Boks!”.
The cock-a-hoop confidence (some may say arrogance) of the team was displayed for all to see. They wanted the Boks on a platter, but they would have to wait.
Part of England’s problem is they have a press corps that lives on extremes. They’re the world’s best when they win, and absolute losers when they lose. So a fortnight with losses at Murrayfield and Twickenham will hit them hard.
And the team tends, more than others, to believe their own hype.
FROM WORLD BEATERS TO THE DOG’S BREAKFAST
From ‘Bring on the Boks’ we heard how Borthwick proclaimed ahead of the tournament that they were marching to Paris to challenge Fabien Galthie’s France for the Six Nations title. It was to be a pit stop on the road to Ellis Park, where they will face the Springboks in July in the opening weekend of the new Nations’ Championship.
But that didn’t quite happen as they expected. Scotland hit them with an inspired performance, and beat England quite easily. Heads dropped and doubt set in.
We were told it was a blip but then Ireland, led by the irrepressible Jamieson Gibson-Park, smashed them at Twickenham. The level of joy in Andy Farrell’s coaching box only underlined the Irish celebrating answering their own doubters after a lacklustre Six Nations to this point.
But while Ireland celebrated, England were about to be ripped to shreds by their own pundits. Before the tournament we read headlines on how their scrum is the “best in the world” (Ox Nche and Wilco Louw may have something to say about that!) and after their opening win against Wales there were at least 3 articles in their mainstream press calling them “world beaters” and telling us how they were marching to the World Cup title.
Lawrence Dallaglio even penned a column saying the England team were on the same path as the World Cup winners in 2003.
Two weeks later it is hard to see that being anywhere close.
But while some may celebrate this demise, and even Ellis Genge in his apology to his team’s fans admitted they “believed their own hype”, this doesn’t mean England will be easy beats when Ellis Park rolls around in July.
WILL STILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR THE BOKS
England are still a quality team. They have a game plan that, while Scotland and Ireland unlocked it quite easily, can still be very effective if executed correctly.
Mentally they are not quite as strong as they believe they are, but for a one-off game they can be. South Africans know all about coming out fighting when their backs are against the wall.
They showed just how effective they can be in 2023’s World Cup semifinal and while they may have had a lot of shine taken off them in the past few weeks, they are still a dangerous side when they get it right.
Rassie Erasmus will know this. While he may have smiled at the results, the reality is it will force England to rethink and try and come back stronger. An England side arriving full of confidence may have been better for the Boks.
So while their Six Nations dream has been dashed, and Borthwick has to face a lot of scrutiny in his own back yard, England will still be a challenge in July, and a dangerous one for the Boks.
The last two weekends haven't changed that.