England Believes They Played Well in Rome – They're Deluded

There is something about the water flowing from Roman aqueducts that seems to inspire slightly hallucinogenic visions in certain English players. This phenomenon has been observed throughout rugby history, with some players offering perspectives that are as colorful as they are controversial.

In 2010, Steve Borthwick claimed that England delivered "fantastic stuff" in a 17-12 victory over Italy in Rome. This statement was quickly met with skepticism by teammate Nick Easter, who called the performance "boring," and former captain Lawrence Dallaglio, who labeled Borthwick's assessment "delusional." Fast forward to today, and it seems that the same kind of optimism is still present within the England squad, albeit with a different set of circumstances.

Ben Earl, one of the most consistent players for England since the World Cup, recently expressed his belief that the team delivered an "unbelievable performance" for the first hour of their match against Italy. His comments, however, have sparked confusion and disbelief among fans and analysts alike. Earl’s work rate has been exceptional, with 78 carries in four matches during the Six Nations, which is 16 more than any other player. His forthright nature is also well-known, as evidenced by his candid remarks after missing a tackle on South Africa's Damian de Allende, where he admitted he "probably did not sleep for the two nights."

Earl’s perspective on the game at the Stadio Olimpico was particularly striking. He stated, "I actually thought we played pretty well," and emphasized that if the game had ended at 60 minutes, it would have been considered an "unbelievable performance." However, the result did not go England's way, and this discrepancy between performance and outcome has led to some intense discussions within the team.

The noise around Steve Borthwick, the current coach, has been described as "bonkers" by Earl. He pointed out the team's achievements under Borthwick, including finishing third in the World Cup and beating the All Blacks for the first time since 2012. Earl believes that the criticism of the team's performances and Borthwick's regime is unfounded, stating that the group is not letting him down.

However, there is a growing concern that the team may be deluded about their performance. The defeat by Italy was a slow-motion train crash, with England failing to maintain discipline and struggling in key areas of the field. The team's inability to capitalize on their opportunities in the red zone, scoring an average of 1.5 points per visit to the Italy 22, highlights the challenges they face.

Despite the setbacks, Earl remains optimistic, believing that the team just needs to win some games to turn things around. His glass-half-full approach is commendable, but there is a fine line between maintaining a positive outlook and being overly optimistic. If England suffers another loss in Paris, they could find themselves in a difficult position, potentially becoming the worst England team in Six Nations history.

When asked if he could understand the frustration of supporters with Borthwick, Earl responded with a firm "No," arguing that the team has won 12 out of 15 games and should not be expected to win every match. His comments reflect a belief that the team is performing well, even if the results do not always reflect that.

While it is important for players to remain positive and focused, there is a difference between wearing rose-tinted glasses and having the blinkers on. If England truly believe they are playing well and just not getting the breaks, then they are quite simply deluded. The line often used by players and coaches that they are not the best team in the world after a victory or the worst after a defeat is a fine sentiment, but it does not change the reality of the situation.

As the team prepares for their next challenge, the pressure will continue to mount. The question remains whether they can turn things around and prove that their performances are as strong as they believe them to be.

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