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England’s decision to substitute fly-half Marcus Smith with George Ford in their recent match against New Zealand did not go as planned, leading to criticism from fans and pundits alike. With 62 minutes on the scoreboard and England leading by eight points, some believed that Smith, who had been playing well, should have been left on the pitch rather than being replaced by Ford, who had not played in more than a month due to injury. Ultimately, New Zealand scored 10 unanswered points in the final quarter of the match, resulting in England losing the game.
While the substitution has been a focal point of criticism, England’s defeat to New Zealand was not solely attributed to this decision. Other factors, such as defensive errors and a lack of attacking threat beyond Smith’s interception, contributed to the loss. The new defence coach, Joe El-Abd, will address these issues with the team during video analysis in the coming week.
Despite some positives in the match, such as Smith’s overall performance and the efforts of the back five, England’s fifth loss in nine Tests in 2024 highlights the need for improvement. Losing so many close games has become a trend for England, and they will need to make improvements if they are to be successful against upcoming opponents, such as Australia and South Africa.
The Springboks, who won the Rugby World Cup on the back of a deep squad and strong belief, will no doubt pose a challenge for England in their upcoming match. While the substitution controversy has garnered attention, it is just one factor in a larger issue for England, who will need to address their shortcomings if they hope to turn their fortunes around
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