Steve Borthwick says he expects England to perform better. Photo: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
England coach Steve Borthwick insists his team will be retired early and predicts they will prove their quality in their World Cup opener against Argentina.
After a run of five defeats in six games, expectations for England have never been lower at the World Cup, with bookmakers tipping Borthwick's team as 16-1 underdogs. As first reported by Telegraph Sport, scrum-half Alex Mitchell and forward Jonny May will start despite not being in Borthwick's original 33-man squad last month, with captain Courtney Lawes promising England will go «at full strength «against Puma in Marseille.< /p>
Any sense of pessimism outside the England camp contrasts with Borthwick's fiery confidence that his side are ready to defy all naysayers. “I feel there is a feeling among the players that they were written off too early,” Borthwick said. “People announced their time too early. I think there are a lot of great players on this team. The players still have a lot to do. They can't wait to get busy on Saturday night.
“I feel like they are determined to go and give their best performance on the park. I feel disappointed in what people are saying about them, and right now as I sit here and prepare, I expect them to go out and perform with the same quality as they did this week under Courtney's leadership.
Pointing to Lowes, who suffered a spate of injuries last season, and center Manu Tuilagi, who has his own injury record, Borthwick believes the team are mired in difficulties that could lift them out of their current tailspin. “This team has had some setbacks,” Borthwick said. “We talked about Manu Tuilagi, he had to adapt, he had to overcome. When I look at people like the person next to me (Laws), who was tough and overcame a lot, there are a ton of people like him on this team who are made of tough people. I expect them to come on Saturday night and take it to the field.”That includes flanker Tom Currie, who makes his first start under Borthwick this year after missing the Six Nations and then the warm-up series due to injury. Assistant coach Kevin Sinfield has hailed the 25-year-old as a vital part of England's improving defense and he is raring to go in Argentina more than three months after his last game.
“I feel full. confidence,» Curry said. “I think I was well rehearsed to come back from injury and I put myself in a good position for this game. When Saturday comes, it will be special. It's hard because you can't write it down, but it's a feeling. I think it's going to be a fun Saturday.»
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At 34, Lowes admits this will be his last World Cup and wants to retire without any regrets. As captain, he displays a more relaxed style than the fiery intensity of the suspended Owen Farrell, but he promised England will match Argentina's passion on Saturday.
I'd say we put it differently, but this not this way. It's very important that if you play Argentina and you want to beat them, you have to match them there,” Laws said. “We talked about it this week and we think we can do it.”
“This will be my last attempt to win the world championship, so personally I will be absolutely confident in that. everything I have, and I am 100 percent sure that the guys will follow me. There's definitely some disappointment. We feel it just as much as anyone else. We're in the thick of it and doing everything we can to make sure we're running at full capacity this weekend. We're going to give it our all and we're going to give it everything we've got.»
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