As Australia rallied around them to a surprise victory at Twickenham last November, it was then that it really dawned on them that there were serious problems with England's defence.
New Zealand had already stormed the walls to claim a third successive victory over Steve Borthwick's side on the opening weekend of the autumn internationals. Then came South Africa and scored four tries in a 29-20 victory in south-west London, leaving the hosts' Autumn Nations Series campaign in disarray.
The demolition of Japan the following weekend did little to paper over the cracks. England were in a hole and one of the biggest problems was their defensive decline. Having been hastily hired to replace Felix Jones as defense coach, Joe El-Abd was unable to stem the tide as the national team lost 14 tries in four matches.
He and Borthwick seem to have come to the logical conclusion that something has to change. So the common sense result is that the blitz system is being abandoned before the Six Nations. It became clear that there was too much risk and not enough reward in persisting with it, once Jones decided he no longer wanted to be part of the England set-up.
El-Abd was appointed by the RFU at the end of September, initially on a shared basis, so he can continue as head coach of French club Oyonnax until the end of this season. In October, when asked about his short-term outlook in the role, the new recruit spoke of taking over from his highly respected predecessor.
“We are a team that loves to get off the line, and getting off the line is a 'blitz,'” said El-Abd, whose Oyonnax team may be struggling in France's second division, but has one of the best division defensive records. . 'It is not the terminology we use, but we want to put pressure on the opposition. That's not going to change.
England endured a difficult Autumn Nations campaign while using the blitz defense system.
England found themselves in a hole and one of the biggest problems was their defensive decline.
Joe El-Abd replaced Felix Jones as defense coach in September after his shock departure.
'The DNA of English rugby is to be tough and get out of line. We'll take what's been really good and strengthen it. “We’ll take what’s working and see where we can improve it.”
Unfortunately, it turned out to be an impossible task in the time available. Jones had abruptly resigned in August, amid claims that he had become “unhappy with the unstable work environment.” Shocked by the loss of another important member of their staff, after fitness guru Aled Walters defected to Ireland, Borthwick and the RFU opted to leave Jones to pursue a remote analysis role and work out his 12-year notice period. months, before announcing his sudden departure. in December.
The Irishman had established the hyper-aggressive blitz that the Springboks favored during his successful spell with them, as part of World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023. England became increasingly assertive and effective under Jones; limiting the All Blacks to just four tries in two Tests in New Zealand last July, and nearly claiming wins in both.
His risk-and-reward philosophy chimed with that of former Boks coach Jacques Nienaber, who moved to Leinster after the World Cup and spoke of how implementing the blitz is a gradual process that involves some pain along the way.
“Switching to a defense with this kind of line speed is the polar opposite of what they knew,” he said of a Leinster team familiar with a more passive drift system. 'Players will have to rewire their brains and work hard before the major problems are solved.
'It will take 14 weeks. It took us 14 weeks with Munster (when I worked with the province) and 14 games with the Boks when we took over in 2018. In 2018, we won 50 per cent of our Test matches and most of those we lost were due to our defense, but in 2019 we only lost one. So, it takes time.”
England had invested that time, but turmoil among coaches ruined their defensive development. In November, under El-Abd, they seemed disjointed and insecure, lacking the absolute collective conviction that had been evident in the latter stages under Jones.
Speaking after the terrible campaign, former England World Cup-winning lock Ben Kay demanded a change of direction. He said, 'Get rid of the bombing.' I don't have a problem with them trying it, but I don't think it worked. Especially now that they don't have Felix Jones, they need to put that behind them.
Jones resigned abruptly, amid claims that he was “unhappy with the unstable work environment.”
Hyper-aggressive bombing was key for South Africa in their victories in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.
'We all know that they have a new coach and that is not their daily bread; training of that particular defensive system. So even in terms of authenticity to the players, Felix Jones was a proponent of this way of defending, now you have a guy that the players know is new to this way of defending, so selling him to the players is harder. .'
There aren't many teams that employ an all-out blitz. Exeter was an English club that favored the system and their experienced center, Henry Slade, quickly returned to the national team after recovering from surgery, for the start of the autumn program. He may have lacked match acumen, but there was recognition of the fact that in the outside center position, which is so influential defensively, he would be in tune with the blitz.
But tellingly, just after Slade entered camp with England in late October, his club sacked defense coach Omar Mouneimne, who had overseen the adoption of the blitz. Explaining the decision, following a series of league defeats, Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “I felt we needed to go in a new defensive direction.”
England has now followed Exeter's example. It comes as they grapple with the implications of not counting on Devon club wing sensation Immanuel Feyi-Waboso for the Six Nations as he is expected to undergo surgery on his dislocated shoulder, as Mail Sport revealed this week.
The 22-year-old midfielder is another recent member of the Borthwick squad who felt comfortable with the blitz as it was in line with how he was expected to defend week in, week out at national level.
It was notable that when Feyi-Waboso was sent off during the defeat against Australia, he was replaced by Ollie Sleightholme who looked less confident in his defensive duties; being exposed by the skill of new Wallabies sensation Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who tipped, turned and lofted passes around the England defensive line. This is linked to the fact that Sleightholme is used to a different defensive model with the title-winning Saints.
In the Premiership, Northampton operate the 'connected' system, which is more about maintaining good space and holding the line patiently, to absorb attacks. Gloucester has also defended itself that way, although there has been a change of late. The likes of Premiership leaders Sale, Leicester and Bath are believed to prefer a line speed system that is one level below blitzkrieg aggression, but still intensely proactive.
Experts have told Mail Sport that an adjustment by England from a blitz system to a line speed system could be effective in a limited period of time as it would be more familiar to a greater number of players. In essence, it will involve a change from a swarm of attacking players (which can leave open spaces if not executed perfectly) towards a unified and rapid advance, but with a flatter and more square shape. in training, to maintain a broad presence.
Borthwick and El-Abd have decided to abandon the blitz ahead of a crucial Six Nations campaign.
Experts believe a new line speed system could be effective for the tournament
It will still be an aggressive responsibility to get on top of the opponent before they can complete too many passes. And there will still be the intention to be up, 'on the edge', to appear in the line of sight of attackers looking to distribute outwards. But there won't be the same surge that can be devastatingly effective or leave the defensive team exposed. Just think of the open stretches of grass at Twickenham that Wallaby flanker Max Jorgensen was able to burst down the left in the 84th minute last November to snatch a late victory for Australia.
Another factor in policy change is fitness. England often went down during the final quarter of their Tests last year: five times they led with 60 minutes or more played and still lost.
And Kay said after the autumn games: “I think England have outdone themselves in the first three games.” “If you look at where their performance peaks have been, it's been the first 20 minutes.”
Having failed in his initial attempt to recruit Phil Morrow as new performance director, in a work-sharing deal with Saracens (other clubs vetoed the plan for fear of conflicts of interest), Borthwick addressed the issue of fitness after of England's defeat against the Boks. . “At the start of this series you looked at the condition of the players and it wasn't exactly where it needed to be for Test match rugby,” he said.
But the consensus verdict was that the bombing was excessively sapping English energy. So the hope is that the change in defensive format will allow the national team to finish games stronger.
A year ago in Girona, Spain, where England holds its warm-weather camps, there was a big focus on defense as Jones looked to lay the foundations for his blitz revolution. Now, it is expected to once again be a priority area, as El-Abd presides over a change of course. However, Richard Wigglesworth will also need a good amount of time on the pitch to work on a renewed attacking shape, amid the loss to injury of starting full-back George Furbank and flanker Feyi-Waboso. If England continue with two Smiths in tandem (Fin at 10 and Marcus at full-back), they will need training time to develop that alliance of playmakers.
England therefore have a lot of work to do to prepare for when they have the ball and when they don't. Borthwick will also recognize that this is not the time to overlook set pieces and the aerial game – the restarts and how his team receives and pursues high kicks, while the referees maintain an offensive against the 'escort' runners.
There is a lot to fit in and little time. And after a dismal return of seven defeats in 12 games in 2024, the pressure is on, entering a very deep Championship campaign, starting with Ireland away and France at home. The change of plan has to work and quickly.