Mick Cleary: ‘England were tight, on-message and forceful. There was a clear sense of what they were trying to do.’

Crisis? What crisis? We were told that England they were fueled by noise off the pitch over an article in The Times. In an era of declining newspaper sales, it’s heartening to see that the inky shop can still make a mark. Maybe the RFU should take a subscription. Charge it to the Motivation Department.

Better yet, guys should work it out for themselves. And here we are after the stormy reaction in Allianz to all kinds of events. Put the piece to one side. With all due respect to a respectable journalist who would report things in good faith, things in the media should not be present in the build-up. Whatever it is that brings the team together has to come from within and be generated by best practices that happen behind closed doors. The occasional and typically spirited defense of Jamie George’s schedule ahead of the game was one example, All black people emotional rallying in the traumatic light of their own sudden death was another different illustration, teams need to reach out to get them in the right frame of mind. Whatever sporting elixir England have swallowed, they must bottle and reproduce it at every opportunity between now and the World Cup in Australia in 11 months.

The correct judgment at this point should be postponed until this moment Nations Championship is finished. England are on course to end their four-game streak with a shootout against the All Blacks, currently also in second place in their section of the Championship. It will be a tester. And that should be our real account.

But credit where it’s due. And that is well and truly due. England had a terrible 2026, apart from the occasional spike. There was an urgent need to correct this situation. And that was it. In spades. England was tough, persistent, strong and inventive. There was a clear sense of what they were trying to do. And for the most part, they succeeded: strong and purposeful in attack, precise in the breakdown and in the match and slippery with the ball in hand. You can’t ask for much more than that.

Don’t let us try to undermine the greatness of what they have achieved by saying that Australia is – which they were – a pale imitation of those Wallabies who have graced the Twickenham turf for decades, Lynagh and Poidevin, Elsom and Gregan, and even those who occasionally shone during the summer months, even on the knomann. (under-strength) Springboks. England that made them look like thieves. They gave it to them now – well, apart from an interception attempt and a mis-presentation that led to an easy touchdown – but the vaunted Fraser McReight hardly showed up, nor did the lord of the skies, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, though boy can he jump. England, however, faced all those threats which suggest they have managed to cut the core pieces the team needs if they are to challenge the market leaders, South Africa and New Zealand.

Borthwick’s job should no longer be in doubt, even on the Clapham omnibus. Players will always have gripes about the controls. Lord knows, Clive Woodward has done quite a lot in his time.

Of course there were mistakes. That was only to be expected, especially with such a reduced introduction. Whatever it was that plagued England during their fall Six Nations and again during the first iteration of this championship of nations, losing his rag and his rhythm in the Argentina when they had four yellow cards, that feeling of restlessness and discomfort disappeared. No one should be surprised that there were objections to that tour. Their schedule was punishing. If the Nations Championship is to be the foundation of the Test scene – which it should be – those travel and welfare issues need to be re-examined.

Borthwick’s job should no longer be in doubt, even on the Clapham omnibus. Players will always have gripes about the controls. Lord knows, Clive Woodward has done quite a lot in his time. Even during the World Cup final itself. Johnson, Dallaglio, Dawson, Back – they weren’t on ceremony when it came to getting things done. All for the common good, of course, not for your own goals.

Replace those names with George, Itoje (who had a great game) and Genge and England 2026 has something of value about them. They could have easily dismissed last week’s media shenanigans, but they chose to face it, embrace it. And it paid off. That ferocious music is set to ring the playing fields of Pennyhill Park for the next few weeks and beyond.

Of course there will be changes for Japan the game. But Borthwick should resist creating more than necessary. Opportunities for experience on match days are decreasing. Splitting time at a coal dump to dig up a quality product is priceless. Some fatigue calculations will have to be made for the Nations Championship finale, but with the ‘Boks and All Blacks on the road for forever and a day, England shouldn’t dwell on it for long.

George Furbank is back at Manor Born, a Test full-back who adds attacking edge and playmaking backup skills.

This play should be seen as a key one. Fin Smith is anointed as England’s fly half. Seb Atkinson (hip problem notwithstanding) and Henry Slade get the first and most sustained bounces in the center pair. The midfield trio clicked, working for each other. Slade may have reached the peak and end of his career, but England need stability in that part of the pitch. South Africa and New Zealand showed the importance of it. It might just be a minor thing, but it was good to see Smith and Slade kick deep with their touch penalties. Too often players opt for safety, dear Jonny used to be an example, but the risk-reward equation has tilted now that the driving strike is such a powerful weapon following recent law changes. England should go for it.

Any team with aspirations of winning the World Cup needs the X-factor. Think Will Jordan or Louis Bielle-Biarrey. Manny Feyi-Waboso fills that role in England. However, his injury record is a concern.

George Furbank is back at Manor Born, a Test full-back who adds attacking edge and playmaking backup skills.

Oh, we didn’t mention Henry Pollock. It should be. The importance of this result and this performance is that it was a team effort, right down to the brave coach who didn’t hesitate to send on his hybrid full-back at half-time for the stricken Wabos.

That selector was, of course, Borthwick. If there’s one man who won’t get carried away by Sunday’s euphoria, it’ll be him. Rudyard’s twin swindlers, Triumph and Catastrophe, could have been written just for him.