The Boks and the blitz - can England keep faith in defence?
In some aspects England’s defence is even better than South Africa’s – a gold standard for working without the ball.
Among elite Test teams this year, England top the table for preventing teams crossing the gainline, with Steve Borthwick’s men managing to do so off 51% of opposition carries, compared to second-placed South Africa’s 45%.
England have an almost identical success tackle success rate to South Africa (84.3% against 84.5%) and have made more dominant tackles from fewer matches.
Take a step back though, take in the big picture and any image of England’s defensive stability melts away.
https://bento.me/terrifier3-thai
https://bento.me/paradise-of-thorns-thai
https://bento.me/watch-teeyod2-thai
https://bento.me/watch-anora-thai
https://bento.me/dangerous-boys2-thai
Last weekend, they conceded five tries and 42 points in defeat by Australia. The weekend before New Zealand ran in three tries and 24 points. During this year’s Six Nations, both Scotland and France put 30 points or more on England.
South Africa have conceded an average of 17 points in each of their matches this year. Meanwhile England are allowing the opposition nearly 25 points a game.
When England head-hunted assistant coach Felix Jones from the back-to-back world champions, they hoped his arrival in early 2024 would be accompanied by a recreation of the Boks’ bear-trap defence.