Northampton head coach Sam Vesty has raised concerns about England's rugby identity under the leadership of Steve Borthwick.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is currently undertaking a review of the team's performance in the Six Nations, during which England suffered four defeats, marking their first such occurrence in the championship since 1976.
This scrutiny extends beyond mere results, delving into the team's style of play, which has faced criticism for being excessively reliant on kicking and a conservative approach. Borthwick has expressed his ambition to evolve England's game beyond the fundamental tactics that led the team to the World Cup semi-final in 2023, indicating that the pressure associated with the national jersey can be constraining.
Vesty, who trains England's half-backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith, along with other players including Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock, Alex Coles, and Fraser Dingwall at Northampton, argues that this perspective is misguided.
"It is the same with all of the other countries as well. They all have a weight of expectation," Vesty stated during an appearance on BBC Radio Northampton's The Saints Show. "Scotland move the ball. Italy move the ball… if I were to ask you what their identity is, you could probably articulate it quite clearly, couldn't you? I'm not certain you can do that with England at this moment."
Despite the struggles, England demonstrated an improved performance in a close 48-46 loss to France in the final round, hinting at the potential for a more attacking style of rugby. Vesty remarked, "It's the easiest time in the world to play, isn't it? Everyone's written them off. There's no pressure on them. Can't win. And we observe a liberated rugby team. Why do we see a liberated rugby team when there's nothing at stake? Why aren't we seeing a liberated rugby team when there's something significant on the line? I believe that is the ultimate challenge."
Northampton has thrived over the past two seasons, claiming the Premiership title and reaching a Champions Cup final, all while showcasing an energetic brand of rugby that has them leading the league table this season, with an average of 38 points per game. When queried about the possibility of England adopting a similar style, Vesty responded, "To a degree, yes. It's still 15 players in attack, still 15 players in defence. Why wouldn't it be?"
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