While England may have won their opening two rugby games of the 2024 Six Nations, there was always a sense that they were not serious contenders to win the championship. After all, they had not really impressed against either Italy or Wales, the two sides widely regarded as the weakest in this year's competition.
They certainly found the going a lot more difficult over the weekend, with Scotland running out 31-20 winners over Steve Borthwick's side at Murrayfield on Saturday evening.
It was a game that was a reminder of how far the English still have to go in order to become contenders in the Six Nations, with some quickly growing tired of their antics on the rugby pitch in recent times.
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Rugby: Clive Woodward hammers England over Scotland celebrations
This England rugby side may not have had all that much success in recent times, but that has not stopped them from celebrating in a very forthright fashion. In fact, they have become known for wildly celebrating incidents on the pitch such as winning penalties.
Writing in his column for Mail Sport, Clive Woodward said it was a practice that had to stop and gave an example of why it can actually hurt them team.
This says so much about England’s mindset. Their players – Ben Earl and Maro Itoje in particular – celebrating winning penalties or turnovers isn’t anything new. It’s been happening for a while.
I just would not allow it. This is why. One of the key moments of the Scotland game came after just eight minutes. England had started really well and had scored a lovely team try through George Furbank.
They were 7-0 up and Murrayfield was very quiet. England had a scrum just inside their own half and won a penalty. Earl had the ball in his hands but turned his back on the opposition and started celebrating the penalty.
All the backs also ran in and celebrated like they had just won the World Cup! Why was Earl not looking to tap and go? He should have been looking to keep Scotland under pressure...
If England think these celebrations have a psychological impact on the opposition they are living in dreamland. I would really urge Borthwick to tell Earl and Co to knock this nonsense on the head.
This has certainly been a trend in England's play during the Six Nations, something that clearly is not sitting well with some of their supporters.
It will be interesting to see if Steve Borthwick asks them to change their approach moving forward.
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