"Struggling to progress" - England handed tough 2023 Rugby World Cup group
Rugby NewsTuesday, 22 August 2023 at 07:58
Sir Ian McGeechan holds the belief that unless substantial efforts are undertaken, England could face the risk of an early elimination in the group stage of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The tenure of head coach Steve Borthwick, who assumed the role after Eddie Jones, has been tumultuous over the past eight months.
McGeechan, in light of selecting his squad in advance, expresses concern about the progression of the England team within their group.
"So, where do England go from here? They simply have to accelerate from Saturday if they are to stand a chance of getting out of their group," wrote McGeechan in his column for The Telegraph.
"Continue in this vein, and I’m not sure they will get beyond a quarter-final. That being said, the situation is rectifiable - but it is going to require some serious graft with time running out.
"England need more high-speed training - fast. Admittedly, a run-out against Fiji next weekend is probably the ideal opposition to provide that. The Fijians will want to move the ball from everywhere, quickly, and it could break up and be loose.
"If England are not more harmonious in their attack then it could spell trouble. Borthwick will want to accelerate this week, into next Saturday - and beyond - to evolve that fluency and understanding.
"Being in an easier pool helps England build into the tournament, but next week’s game against Fiji is crucial. If there is not a significant improvement
FULL 2023 RUGBY WORLD CUP DRAW:
POOL A
- New Zealand
- France
- Italy
- Uruguay
- Namibia
POOL A FIXTURES:
- Sep 8: France vs New Zealand (Pool A) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Sep 9: Italy vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Sep 14: France vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Sep 15: New Zealand vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 20: Italy vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 21: France vs Namibia (Pool A) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Sep 27: Uruguay vs Namibia (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Sep 29: New Zealand vs Italy (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Oct 5: New Zealand vs Uruguay (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Oct 6: France vs Italy (Pool A) – Parc OL, Lyon
Antoine Dupont of France calls for the mark during the Six Nations Championship match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 13 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
POOL B
- South Africa
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Tonga
- Romania
POOL B FIXTURES:
- Sep 9: Ireland vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 10: South Africa vs Scotland (Pool B) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Sep 16: Ireland vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Sep 17: South Africa vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 23: South Africa vs Ireland (Pool B) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Sep 24: Scotland vs Tonga (Pool B) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 30: Scotland vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Oct 1: South Africa vs Asia / Pacific 1 (Pool B) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Oct 7: Ireland vs Scotland (Pool B) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Oct 8: Asia / Pacific 1 vs Romania (Pool B) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
POOL C
- Wales
- Australia
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Portugal
POOL C FIXTURES:
- Sep 9: Australia vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de France, Saint-Denis
- Sep 10: Wales vs Fiji (Pool C) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 16: Wales vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 17: Australia vs Fiji (Pool C) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Sep 23: Georgia vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 24: Wales vs Australia (Pool C) – Parc OL, Lyon
- Sep 30: Fiji vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Oct 1: Australia vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Oct 7: Wales vs Georgia (Pool C) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Oct 8: Fiji vs Portugal (Pool C) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
POOL D
- England
- Japan
- Argentina
- Samoa
- Chile
POOL D FIXTURES:
- Sep 9: England vs Argentina (Pool D) – Stade Velodrome, Marseille
- Sep 10: Japan vs Chile (Pool D) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 16: Samoa vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
- Sep 17: England vs Japan (Pool D) – Stade de Nice, Nice
- Sep 22: Argentina vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne
- Sep 23: England vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Sep 28: Japan vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
- Sep 30: Argentina vs Chile (Pool D) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
- Oct 7: England vs Samoa (Pool D) – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
- Oct 8: Japan vs Argentina (Pool D) – Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Marcus Smith of England and Alex Dombrandt of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
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