England head coach Steve Borthwick has expressed his team’s determination to turn narrow defeats into victories in the upcoming Autumn Nations Series.
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This year, England has suffered three close losses—two against New Zealand and one against France—by a total margin of just 10 points, having led in the final quarter of each match.
The All Blacks will visit Allianz Stadium on November 2, with England also set to face Australia, South Africa, and Japan in the series. Borthwick is keen for his side to move beyond their reputation for being ‘plucky losers’.
“I am clear that the team needs to consistently put itself in position to win games, which we’ve done a lot better,” England’s head coach said.
“There was a period not so long ago where we weren’t competing against the top four sides in the world. Now we’re competing against them but I want to make sure we get the job finished at the end.
“We want to make sure the Allianz Stadium is a place that our players enjoy playing and that our fans enjoy coming to because they’re seeing an England team performing and an England team winning. We’re very clear about that.
“Make no mistake, I praise the players for their performances and for all their efforts because they’ve done a lot of good things, but there have also been times where we have lost games as opposed to the opposition winning them.
“We were in a winning position against New Zealand in Dunedin and we didn’t win. And then we got ourselves into a winning position in Auckland where we should have learned the lessons from the week before.
“We need to make sure we’ve learned those lessons so that they can be converted into results.”
The Three Richest Couples in World Rugby
From high-profile marriages to lucrative endorsements and television appearances, these rugby stars have built financial empires.
Here’s a look at three couples who have combined their sporting legacies with fame and fortune, amassing millions along the way.
Mike and Zara Tindall – £20m
Mike Tindall is known not just for his rugby prowess but for his royal connections. As the husband of Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Tindall has become a prominent figure in British media.
Nicknamed “The Fridge” due to his imposing physique, Tindall was a stalwart on the rugby field, famously breaking his nose at least eight times over the course of his career. Since retiring from the sport, he’s made a name for himself in the entertainment world, appearing on popular reality shows such as I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, The Jump, Shark Cage, Celebrity Poker Club, and All-Star Poker Challenge.
Despite his success in sports and entertainment, Tindall’s wealth has been largely bolstered by his royal ties, with his net worth estimated at £20 million, according to British media.
