Matt Dawson: Why England lost to Australia

November 10

England have flown out of the blocks in their opening two games of the autumn against New Zealand and Australia – but they are like Jekyll and Hyde.

I want them to back themselves for 80 minutes.

There are parts of their game I am unhappy with, but they are also playing some really good stuff.

You can tell they prepared very well for Saturday’s game by the way they started and broke the Wallabies down. I cannot fault their endeavour, creativity and spirit, but it was Australia who came out on top in winning 42-37.

For some reason, one of England’s defaults when they are ahead and in control of a game is to try and close it down with a very negative style of kicking.

That is not going to allow them to win games against top opposition. It hasn’t happened once, or twice; it is relentless.

Unless it is hammering it down and the match is a proper arm-wrestle – like against South Africa in the rain in last year’s World Cup semi-final in Paris – it will not be good enough to win these games.

England come unstuck when they go back to their offensive box-kicking rather than playing in a way that got them into that leading position. I find it odd.

Everyone changes how they play rugby depending on the score, the clock, the referee and the players at their disposal.

But England have continued to be in good positions with 15 men on the field and squander it by going to this low-risk rugby, which kills their momentum and gives the opposition a breather and an opportunity to counter-attack.

I am guessing it is a statistical method of coaching.

Coach Steve Borthwick seems to think it is going to increase the number of times you will get the ball back. But bear in mind you have the ball in the first place, and you have pressure and great players.

England are giving that away in return for the bounce of the ball, or a penalty they can capitalise on.

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