Northampton head coach Vesty questions England's identity under Borthwick

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Northampton head coach Sam Vesty talks Saints and England

Published23 minutes ago
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Northampton head coach Sam Vesty has questioned whether England have lost their identity under Steve Borthwick.

The RFU are currently holding a review into the team's under-performance in the Six Nations in which England lost four games for the first time in the championship since 1976.

Under scrutiny will be not only England's results but the style of play which has been criticised as being overly kick-heavy and conservative.

Borthwick, who has spoken of his desire to develop England's game from the basic approach which took England to the World Cup semi-final in 2023, has referred to the weight of the jersey proving restrictive.

However Vesty, who coaches England half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith as well as Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock, Alex Coles and Fraser Dingwall at Northampton, thinks this is a red herring.

"It is the same with all of the other countries as well. They all have a weight of expectation," Vesty told BBC Radio Northampton's The Saints Show.

"Scotland move the ball. Italy move the ball… all those teams that we have just mentioned - if I asked you what their identity was, you could pretty clearly say something, couldn't you? I'm not sure you can say that with England at the moment."

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France take title after winning high-scoring thriller against England

England delivered a much-improved display in a narrow 48-46 defeat to France in the final round with plenty of attacking rugby but Vesty queried how much importance should be attached to the game.

"It's the easiest time in the world to play, isn't it?" added Vesty, who was an assistant coach on England's 2017 tour to Argentina under Eddie Jones.

"Everyone's written them off. There's no pressure on them. Can't win. And we see a free rugby team.

"Why are we seeing a free rugby team when there's nothing to play for? Why aren't we seeing a free rugby team when there is something on the cards? I think that is the ultimate test."

Northampton have won the Prem and reached a Champions Cup final over the past two seasons playing a vibrant handling brand of rugby. They lead the league table this season after 11 rounds averaging 38 points per game, more than any of their rivals.

Asked whether it would be possible for England to play the way Saints do on an international stage, Vesty replied: "To a degree, yes. It's still 15 players in attack, still 15 players in defence. Why wouldn't it be?"