Courtney Lawes has pinpointed a ‘sheltered’ upbringing as a contributing factor to England’s recent struggles on the rugby pitch. Lawes suggests that this lack of ‘adversity’ is impacting the team’s performance. His comments come amidst a challenging period for England, who have suffered three consecutive defeats in the Six Nations Championship.
England’s Six Nations Struggles
England’s recent form has been poor, with losses to Scotland, Ireland, and a first-ever defeat to Italy. These results have placed Steve Borthwick and the squad under pressure. The head coach’s job could be at risk when they face France.
Lawes believes there’s a divide within the team. He feels the senior players aren’t performing to their potential, while the younger players are experiencing their first major challenges.
Lawes’s Critique of the Current Squad
Lawes has expressed concern about whether enough of England’s young players truly understand the high-stakes nature of international rugby. He questions how many have faced genuine adversity in their careers or lives. He highlighted that the younger players, who have enjoyed success early in their international careers, are now facing a significant wake-up call during this Six Nations.
Lawes contrasts the experiences of the younger players, such as Henry Pollock, with his own upbringing. He recalls facing tough situations as a teenager, which instilled in him a sense of perspective and resilience. He suggests that these experiences helped him cope with setbacks later in his rugby career.
France Clash Looms
England are set to face France. Lawes insists they must adopt a ‘kill or be killed’ mentality. The team includes experienced players like Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly, but it is also a youthful outfit with players such as Tommy Freeman, Guy Pepper and Henry Pollock.
Lawes shared his personal experiences of dealing with adversity early in his career, including being dropped by Eddie Jones in 2016. He believes those experiences helped him develop resilience.
Lawes stated that there were worse situations to be in than losing a rugby game or three.