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The 'aggressive' reason why Sam Warburton likes the look of England

Chandler Cunningham-South carries for England versus New Zealand (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Retired Wales skipper Sam Warburton has explained why England will be among the favourites to win the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, 24 years after they were crowned champions in Sydney with a 2003 extra time win over the Wallabies. Beaten finalists in 2007 and 2019, the English were eliminated by defending champions South Africa in the semi-finals at the most recent World Cup last October, losing to a last-minute penalty in Paris kicked by Handre Pollard. 

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England were criticised at that tournament for their blunt approach to playing the game, but they have since expanded their armoury and Steve Borthwick’s side were deemed to be unlucky losers in their recent two-Test series tour to New Zealand. Some new and re-energised players led the charge on that tour following a Six Nations that ended with the third place England winning more matches (three) than they lost for the first time since they were last crowned champions in 2020.   

That improvement caught the eye of Warburton, the 2013 and 2017 British and Irish Lions captain, and he has now delivered an optimistic long-term prediction about Borthwick’s refreshed squad. “England will 100 per cent be up there among the favourites for the next World Cup, without a doubt,” reckoned the Canterbury ambassador. “Watching their games in both tests against New Zealand, they just had some tough calls from the referee so they are only an interpretation away from two very good results. 

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Rassie Erasmus on Sam Warburton’s claims that Ireland are the best team in the world

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says he didn’t pay too much attention to Sam Warburton’s comments about Ireland being the best team in the World.

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Rassie Erasmus on Sam Warburton’s claims that Ireland are the best team in the world

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says he didn’t pay too much attention to Sam Warburton’s comments about Ireland being the best team in the World.

“The players they have got: In international rugby, you need big, skillful athletes and they have got so many skillful, aggressive athletes. (George) Martin has been a revelation. He had always shown promise in the earlier stages of his career but since the World Cup, he has been world class in that second row with Maro Itoje. 

“With (Chandler) Cunningham-South, I always wanted him to start in the Six Nations and he has now been starting. England have got a serious team to challenge in the World Cup. They will be a lot better next year and they will be competing for the Six Nations.”

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Warburton also labelled Marcus Smith as the business following his return to the No10 England shirt on the recent tour in the absence of the injured George Ford. Smith had been Eddie Jones’ first choice out-half until his December 2022 sacking, but he had been tried out at full-back under Borthwick who preferred Owen Farrell and Ford as his World Cup out-half starters. 

With Farrell having since stepped away from the international scene, Ford was Borthwick’s choice for the 2024 Six Nations but his decision not to tour opened up the position again to Smith who travelled with his namesake Fin Smith as the bench cover.

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“What England fans will be delighted with Marcus Smith is that at times he has played and it has not been the same player we have seen for Harlequins,” said Warburton. “We saw in both games (against New Zealand) lots of Marcus Smith that we see at the Quins. Crossfield kicks, ball in hand. Defensively, he is so much stronger than he was a few years ago. 

“Marcus Smith is the business and he is going to be England’s fly-half and they have got a great problem with him and Fin Smith. I say problem; it is not a problem because it’s what coaches dream of but they will need to be competing for the same shirt because I don’t think they will fit in the same team.”

  • Canterbury ambassador Sam Warburton was speaking as the heritage rugby brand release their new boot collection, the Stampede. Click here to view the collection

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J
JW 2 hours ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Certainly got lucky, their strike rate in recruits is simply to high to be another else. How many failures can you count off the top of you head?


Theyre no longer playing that attack structure, so kinda irrelevant I feel. Sexton's metronomic tempo was perfect for that sort of football though. I really shouldn't say anything disparaging about his ability and influence on a northern style as he's probably a much closer footballer to the great Dan Carter than the modern NZ tens are. Still feel the game is better off in the NH now that players like Smith and Ntamack are able to lead the way with their performances.


I suggest not falling into that trap of replacing someone. They don't need a Sexton at 10, that guy and influence can come from anywhere in the team. Wallace Sititi for example has done so much to flip the debate on the NZ midfielders needing to have Nonu/Smith level distribution. They're trying to transition their game into a fast contest, ala their two victories against SA, but also losing out on that against SA and England (possible NZ too). Nienaber being seen as more beneficial to that outcome than Lancaster. I too think they're wrong though, it was a gift Faz got provided with but I haven't seen the Irish psyche want to recognize that. Some might say it's disrespectful to credit all of Irelands success on the back of a fortuitous style of play they discovered (were gifted, w/e) but I'll tell anyone that that's all New Zealands success is based off, and if a more natural organically grown pressuring style it's still something that is ingrained on everyones instincts just the same and can easily be lost of not appreciated.

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