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ENGLAND HEAD COACH STEVE BORTHWICK’S POSITION IS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE AFTER THE MEN IN WHITE SLUMPED TO A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE DEFEAT, THIS TIME AT THE HANDS OF BACK-TO-BACK WORLD CUP
CHAMPIONS SOUTH AFRICA AT TWICKENHAM’S ALLIANZ STADIUM. RUCK’s Autumn Nations Series coverage is proudly powered by the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, dedicated to creating a world free of
MND. Join the the fight against MND here. __ FLYING START, BUT A FAMILIAR COLLAPSE England started brightly, with wing Ollie Sleightholme crossing the line after just three minutes. But the
Springboks soon flexed their muscles, responding with a rapid-fire trio of tries from Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and the electrifying Cheslin Kolbe. England looked briefly revived
when Sam Underhill’s charge brought them within two points at the break, but South Africa’s relentless pressure saw them secure a second-half try from Kolbe, sealing their victory. THE
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE DOMINATES It’s been a tough run for England, as the Southern Hemisphere’s big three – New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa – have now claimed wins at Allianz Stadium
on successive weekends. The hosts will hope to bounce back when they face Japan, who were thrashed 52-12 by France last weekend, but questions over their progress under Borthwick continue to
swirl. IS BORTHWICK’S JOB ON THE LINE? The pressure is mounting for Steve Borthwick, and it’s not far-fetched to think his job could be at risk. The odds of the next England coach show just
how much uncertainty surrounds his future: * SIR CLIVE WOODWARD – 40/1 * PHIL DAWSON – 20/1 * ROB BAXTER – 18/1 * ANDY FARRELL – 15/1 * MICHAEL CHEIKA – 12/1 * RONAN O’GARA – 10/1 * STUART
LANCASTER – 2/1 EDITORS PICKS: FIVE ENGLAND PLAYERS STEVE BORTHWICK SHOULD DROP – AND WHO SHOULD REPLACE THEM RUCK’s Autumn Nations Series coverage is proudly powered by the My Name’5 Doddie
Foundation, dedicated to creating a world free of MND. Join the the fight against MND here. Here’s how each player fared, with ratings from multiple outlets: #1. FREDDIE STEWARD – HIGH BALL
HERO, DEFENSIVE ZERO? AVERAGE RATING: 4.75/10 * EVENING STANDARD (5/10): “Handed a first start this autumn due to his ability under the high ball, but struggled. Williams and Kolbe skinned
him for their tries.” * TELEGRAPH (5/10): “Definition of sublime and ridiculous. Left clutching thin air for both Grant Williams’ and Cheslin Kolbe’s tries and at one stage did a face plant.
Also some brilliant high-ball takes.” * EXPRESS (4/10): “At fault for tries by Kolbe and Williams as he endured a difficult return to starting line-up.” * RUGBY PASS (5/10): “Exposed
defensively for two tries, despite strong aerial work.” REPLACEMENT: _George Furbank_ – He shouldn’t have been dropped in the first place. ------------------------- #2. ELLIS GENGE – THE
GENGE ROLLERCOASTER AVERAGE RATING: 4.5/10 * EVENING STANDARD (5/10): “Let Williams slip past him as the scrum-half went over for South Africa’s opening try. Improved after that, though, and
was bright in the loose – but not at his best.” * EXPRESS (4/10): “Scrum problems in first half, usual full-blooded commitment for an hour.” REPLACEMENT: _Fin Baxter_ – Genge’s leadership
was strong, but a change may be needed in the tighthead role. ------------------------- #3. OLLIE LAWRENCE – HITS, MISSES, AND A BIT MORE OF THE SAME AVERAGE RATING: 5/10 * TELEGRAPH (5/10):
“Barely used as a ball-carrier again. Put one huge hit on Manie Libbok but also wasted a good attacking opportunity with a needless kick. Disappointing.” * PLANET RUGBY (5/10): “Solid in
attack but caught out in defense, continuing the trend of inconsistency.” * EXPRESS (5/10): “Hit hard and carried hard, but in this fixture that is a minimum requirement.” REPLACEMENT: _Alex
Lozowski_ – Needs to step in to provide more stability and spark in attack. ------------------------- #4. WILL STUART – SCRUM WOES AND PENALTY TROUBLES AVERAGE RATING: 4.5/10 * TELEGRAPH
(4/10): “Difficult to overlook the succession of three penalties, even if the third seemed harsh. Did get one back at the scrum in the second half.” * EXPRESS (5/10): “England again unable
to build any sort of attacking platform from their scrum against the mighty Boks.” REPLACEMENT: _Dan Cole_ – Still England’s best tighthead. ------------------------- #5. JACK VAN POORTVLIET
– STRUGGLING TO FIND HIS RHYTHM AVERAGE RATING: 4.5/10 * EVENING STANDARD (5/10): “Shaky at times and repeatedly had his box-kicks charged down.” * PLANET RUGBY (5/10): “Never fully
recovered from a shaky start, with multiple box kicks charged down by du Toit and Etzebeth.” * EXPRESS (3/10): “First start in a long while and it showed. Repeatedly charged down at the
base.” * TELEGRAPH (5/10): “Etzebeth made him his bunny, charging him down twice in a hesitant early performance.” REPLACEMENT: _Ben Spencer_ – Should’ve been given more game time from the
start.