Six Nations 2010: Steve Borthwick stands by his defence of Englands style

By Mick Cleary, Rugby Union Correspondent Published: 9:05PM GMT twenty-five February 2010

Leading man: Steve Borthwick believes England are an mending group Photo: GETTY IMAGES

It was a perspective regarded by former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio as "delusional" and "an insult to the intelligence".

Borthwick did admit that there were areas that indispensable alleviation as England hope for to face Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday but stranded resolutely to his row that the group had finished well to win a wily fixture.

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His comments at the Stadio Flaminio drew quite severe reprove from Dallaglio, who doubtful Borthwick"s explain that England "had played a little illusory stuff".

"The chairman asking the questions has been well known to be somewhat disastrous and I cite to be positive," Borthwick said. "I still mount by the actuality that we did a lot of great things.

Too often, these things are played down and people are rught away seeking for the negatives. There were a lot of peculiarity things in Rome.

We done countless line breaks, nonetheless that doesn"t censor the actuality that you can have all the line breaks in the universe but if you don"t modify them in to tries afterwards they equate for nothing. I"m not astounded by the criticism. It"s a trait. As a group we"re developing. We know what we"re perplexing to achieve, we know what we did well and what we need to improve."

Borthwick took issue with the perspective that England ought to acquit their behind line more, stating, rightly, that they should do so usually if it was the scold option.

The worry comes when the Twickenham throng get nervous and the groans and jeers begin to relate turn the stands, as they did opposite Argentina in November. Borthwick, though, discharged suggestions that the side would feel underneath vigour in front of home supporters on Saturday.

"What would you be essay if we attempted to run from underneath the own posts, got incited over and conceded a try? You"ve got to win rugby matches.

Of march you wish to win well but you"ve got to certitude the players to have the right decisions. When the Twickenham throng sung Swing Low about fifteen mins prior to the finish of the diversion opposite Wales, it was the loudest I"ve ever heard. The fans give us a lift."

England"s home jot down in the Six Nations over the past dual years is receptive to advice they have won their last five matches at Twickenham given Wales flog them 26-19 in the opening diversion of the 2008 tournament.

They have been particularly less successful in the autumn Tests, essentially since the peculiarity of the antithesis is that majority better. Ireland, however, come to Twickenham carrying won five of their last 6 games opposite England, the majority new their 14-13 win at Croke Park last year en track to the Grand Slam.

England know that they have to whet multiform aspects of their game. Even Borthwick accepts that England"s kick-chase diversion was baggy and inaccurate.

Against Ireland such lapses will be punished some-more exceedingly than they were by Italy, even in the deficiency of harmed Ireland full-back Rob Kearney and wing Luke Fitzgerald.

England"s means was not helped by the loss of Mark Cueto from Tghursday morning"s precision session. The Sale wing is the fifth England player in new weeks to go down with a go through bug. Northampton"s uncapped Chris Ashton has been summoned as cover.

Ashton is the tip try scorer in the Premiership but the rugby joining modify is fresh at this level.

England"s behind 3 have the power to emanate difficulties, with the right round and a certain outlook.

Martin Johnson, the England manager, will wish Cueto to pass muster. Ugo Monye, Cuetos" wing partner, conceded that they had underperformed in Rome even though they total well to emanate Mathew Tait"s try.

"Our follow was bad opposite Italy and I was one of those guilty," Monye said. "The work you do off the round is so critical at this level. Our power forsaken in Rome. We"d be foolish to flog feeble to Ireland and give them the event to cut us.

"As for counter-attacking, you"ll regularly find back-three players wanting to go from their own dead-ball line. You regularly wish to fool around with round in hand. It"s critical to get balance, but I think you"ll see some-more from us this weekend."

That would be a bonus for everyone.