England's back-three conundrum is one of the most pressing issues in rugby union right now. Can Steve Borthwick and his coaching team find a winning formula against New Zealand? The answer lies in the versatility of England's players, particularly in terms of aerial ability and playmaking smarts.
Borthwick faces an injury crisis with several key players out, but former England wing Ugo Monye believes that Henry Arundell, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and Freddie Steward could form a formidable back three. Monye thinks that Elliot Daly would be an ideal replacement at full-back, but only if he's fully fit after a long period of absence.
The problem is that England's gameplan relies heavily on aerial ability, which isn't Arundell's strength. He likes to have the ball in his hands and play on the floor, whereas Feyi-Waboso and Steward are exceptional at chasing high kicks and getting the ball back.
Former England scrum-half Danny Care agrees that England's depth in the backfield is being tested by the back-to-back grind of the autumn internationals. He suggests that the team may need to opt for three backs on the eight-man bench to support an unfamiliar combination.
Matt Dawson, who won the World Cup with England in 2003, doesn't think that Marcus Smith should be considered for the back-three role. He believes that Smith's creative talents are better suited as a game-changing fly-half replacement rather than at full-back.
Ultimately, Borthwick and his team will need to find a balance between experience and youth, injury and depth, and tactical innovation and pragmatism. With the All Blacks coming to Twickenham, it's clear that England will be under pressure to deliver a winning formula against their old rivals. Can they rise to the challenge?
Borthwick faces an injury crisis with several key players out, but former England wing Ugo Monye believes that Henry Arundell, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and Freddie Steward could form a formidable back three. Monye thinks that Elliot Daly would be an ideal replacement at full-back, but only if he's fully fit after a long period of absence.
The problem is that England's gameplan relies heavily on aerial ability, which isn't Arundell's strength. He likes to have the ball in his hands and play on the floor, whereas Feyi-Waboso and Steward are exceptional at chasing high kicks and getting the ball back.
Former England scrum-half Danny Care agrees that England's depth in the backfield is being tested by the back-to-back grind of the autumn internationals. He suggests that the team may need to opt for three backs on the eight-man bench to support an unfamiliar combination.
Matt Dawson, who won the World Cup with England in 2003, doesn't think that Marcus Smith should be considered for the back-three role. He believes that Smith's creative talents are better suited as a game-changing fly-half replacement rather than at full-back.
Ultimately, Borthwick and his team will need to find a balance between experience and youth, injury and depth, and tactical innovation and pragmatism. With the All Blacks coming to Twickenham, it's clear that England will be under pressure to deliver a winning formula against their old rivals. Can they rise to the challenge?
! England needs someone who can bring that aerial ability and playmaking smarts, but at the same time not sacrifice their own playing style. It's like trying to find a perfect balance between being innovative and practical.
... I mean, who doesn't love an old rivalry match, right? 
But seriously, with the injury crisis and all, it's a tough ask. I'm kinda hoping for some clever squad management from Borthwick and his team, you know? Maybe they can find a way to make it work with that depth in the backfield 
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. I mean, Smith's got game-changing skills for sure! But maybe, just maybe, Borthwick and co need to take a step back and think about what they're trying to achieve on the pitch. Can't wait to see how it all plays out! 
...also ben young is not same player as he was 2 years ago when he won europe 
...england needs a spark to win this game against nz
what if they try freddie and ugo together in back 3 tho? 
would work really well or maybe just keep felix lealuffe's expertise as a fullback 
. He's gotta mix and match different positions and formations, get the best out of the players he has available, you know? The problem is, England can't rely on aerial ability all the time 
. They need a gameplan that can handle different situations. Maybe they should try to create more space on the field rather than trying to tackle high kicks 
. And what's with the lack of experience in the back three? It's like they're throwing them in without any preparation 
. The All Blacks are gonna come at them hard, and if England can't step up their game, it's gonna be a long night for Borthwick 
Elliot Daly for full-back only if he's 100% fit 
[GIF of a bee flying towards a flower, with a "
" symbol]
[Meme of Matt Dawson with a facepalm and the caption "World Cup winner in 2003, but still got it wrong"]
[GIF of a video game character upgrading their skills]
, and I'm totally distracted from rugby for now... anyway, back to England's back-three conundrum, have you ever noticed how some people are just naturally better at catching high kicks than others? like Ugo Monye is on point, but I bet that Immanuel Feyi-Waboso would be an absolute beast in a different position 
. They need to find that sweet spot where experience and youth, depth and injury resilience come together 
. Maybe they should try a hybrid approach, with a more experienced player like Daly at full-back and Arundell or Feyi-Waboso on the wings? 
Whatever happens, I'm excited to see how England responds against New Zealand 
, maybe Freddie Steward at full-back instead of Arundell? 
he's got the skills and experience to cover all that aerial stuff 
that would be pure magic 
!
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