Former captain Courtney Lawes has urged England’s younger players to rise to the occasion against France on Saturday, cautioning them that it is metaphorically “kill or be killed” in the Six Nations.
In his column for The Times, Lawes, who earned 105 caps for his nation, expressed concerns regarding the resilience of some England players both on and off the field.
“Until now, those younger players have only experienced success in their international careers,” Lawes stated.
“This Six Nations has served as a significant wake-up call. They are experiencing firsthand what rugby feels like when the sport they cherish is not performing well. It can be demoralizing and undermine your confidence.
“This is not a critique of anyone’s background — but this could be the most challenging period in their lives.
“So how can they be adequately prepared to handle the pressure from coaches due to their performances and from outside influences because of the results?”
England travels to Paris this week aiming to avoid their worst-ever outcome in a Six Nations campaign, having secured only one victory against Wales in the first round, followed by three consecutive losses.
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Entering the tournament with aspirations of clinching the title for the first time since 2020, when Lawes was part of the squad, England has stumbled, increasing the pressure on both the players and head coach Steve Borthwick.
Lawes has indicated that it is time to identify which players can rise to the challenge and guide England through difficult times.
“… The younger generation of players emerging, particularly in England, are somewhat sheltered,” the former Northampton lock added.
“One only needs to look at the TikTok dance that Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, Freddie Steward, and Fin Smith recorded last autumn.
“I cannot fathom any other team in England’s history where that would have occurred.
“I’m not suggesting it was inappropriate or negative. I’m merely stating that there is a distinction between those who wish to engage in such activities and those who have endured significant challenges.”
Prior to the tournament, Borthwick expressed confidence in his younger players to showcase their talents, emphasizing that the game requires superstars.
Lawes also criticized the coaching staff for becoming overly dependent on kicking and lacking in attacking innovation.
“As England has underperformed, Borthwick has become increasingly risk-averse with the game plan,” Lawes remarked.
“The level of attacking rugby in the Premiership is exceptional. There are remarkable tries being scored weekly from first-phase setups, multi-phase play, and lineout launch strategies.
“That is where inquiries need to be made. Our capacity to score tries has been dismal. England seems intent on kicking before we have even made an attempt.”
