England suffered a fifth straight defeat as world champions South Africa received 29-20 at Twickenham on Saturday.

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It was additionally their third loss in as many November internationals after last-gasp 24-22 and 42-37 reverses in opposition to New Zealand and Australia.

England wrap up their 2024 at dwelling to Japan subsequent weekend however beating the Cherry Blossoms is unlikely to ease the strain on the Red Rose brigade, who’ve a tricky begin to subsequent 12 months’s Six Nations in opposition to champions Ireland earlier than enjoying France.

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Below, a have a look at a number of the key points dealing with England coach Steve Borthwick and his gamers.

Leadership

England have recently been discovered wanting within the remaining quarter, failing to shut out video games in opposition to the All Blacks and the Wallabies, whereas on Saturday they have been unable to capitalise on the Springboks being a person down when Gerhard Steenekamp was sin-binned with 12 minutes remaining.

One motive to nominate a captain is so he can present management in robust conditions. Yet England skipper Jamie George, who performs within the bodily demanding place of hooker, is routinely changed early within the second half of video games, as occurred in opposition to South Africa.

“I cannot get my head around why you would take your captain off in the 50th minute?,” stated Matt Dawson, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning scrum-half, advised the BBC.

George, in the meantime, defended the England set-up by saying: “I believe you have a look at the staff that was on on the finish, there was loads of leaders in that staff.

“I think every player, if you speak to every player, they would always want to play every moment of every game.”

He added: “The hooker jersey is an 80-minute performance across two players.”

Leaky defence

England have conceded 12 tries in three Tests this month, with the Springboks operating in 4 at Twickenham on Saturday, together with a double for electrical wing Cheslin Kolbe.

They missed 25 tackles in opposition to South Africa and 35 in opposition to New Zealand, with these figures a transparent signal of their defensive woes.

England’s trigger has been hampered by defence guru Felix Jones quitting simply months after becoming a member of Borthwick’s workers, having helped South Africa win the 2019 and 2023 World Cups.

In his absence, England have regarded unsure in deploying Jones’s famed ‘blitz defence’, with gamers not holding their positions in a seeming lack of religion of their team-mates.

England’s ruck defence has additionally been an issue, with scrumhalf Grant Williams the newest opponent to use this vulnerability when bursting between prop Ellis Genge and lock George Martin to attain the Springboks’ opening attempt on Saturday.

Smith wants help

A flyhalf is commonly dubbed “the conductor of the orchestra”, so vital is the No 10 to initiating assaults.

But England’s Marcus Smith has additionally seemed to be the Red Rose equal of a live performance soloist as nicely in latest occasions.

The 25-year-old Harlequins playmaker loved an outstanding begin in opposition to the Springboks, his dummied drop-goal and slick go to Henry Slade creating the primary attempt of the match for Ollie Sleightholme inside 4 minutes.

England, nonetheless, have been with out influential scrum-half Alex Mitchell resulting from damage this month and Smith is being requested to do an excessive amount of in assault, with the flyhalf in want of larger inventive help, be it in midfield or from the again three.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse