After every weekend of the 2025 Six Nations, James Haskell and Mike Tindall are answering Telegraph readers’ questions. After England’s opening defeat by Ireland, Mike Tindall said that Steve Borthwick needed to turn close defeats into wins. The England team went on to do just that in the one-point victories over France and Scotland.
After James Haskell’s defence of the scrum a fortnight ago, Tindall is back answering on everything from box-kicking to the most boring teams in world rugby.
You can leave questions for the hosts of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast at any point during this year’s championship.
‘England choose to kick – France back themselves to run’
Clive Brooks asked: What is the thinking behind continuous box-kicking, which, in reasonable conditions, gave the ball back to Scotland, who were much more dangerous than England in open play?
What I would say is that England have a planned exit. With Steve, you have to understand he wants a strong exit in terms of getting out of your own half.
Now, do we always get the balance of that correct, no. We kicked 36 times on the weekend, which is not outrageous, and obviously that takes into account grubbers and kicks from 10, which was eight times more than Scotland. When you view it as once more than Scotland every 10 minutes, it does not seem excessive.
But, a kicking game comes down to the nature of the game and the opportunities it presents. England’s box-kicking is normally used as a weapon to get the ball back. There were occasions on Saturday when we were under the pump and it was more to relieve pressure.
Could we do things differently? Of course. But it seems to be the default for this England team to get them out of trouble. At the moment you will see England slow it all down, bring another forward to go another foot back, then box-kick. That process frustrates people, because it adds another 10 seconds on, allows defences to get set. I understand the frustrations.
Did I think we overly kicked on the weekend? Yes. But not just box-kicking – it was too predetermined. If you watch someone like France, when pressure comes on they still back themselves and their offloading ability. England are too shape focused as opposed to seeing opportunities. You need shape and structure for when you are under the pump, but it’s the balance and at the moment England don’t have that.
As a centre, you have to do what needs to be done, but you also have to see opportunities and relay those into your fly-half. You are in control of when you get into the game, by demanding the ball off nine and off the line out. Whereas if you are so shape-focused and falling into your role, that is an issue. Scotland find ways to get the likes of Duhan van der Merwe the ball. Look at Louis Bielle-Biarrey with that grubber in Rome. Our wingers are exceptionally good. If you give those players opportunities then those things can happen.
‘Twickenham has played real role in England’s games’
Christian Pavey asked: I was at Twickenham and was disappointed to hear the crowd booing Finn Russell’s late conversion attempt. This kind of reaction wouldn’t have been common a few years ago. In your view, what has changed that has made a significant portion of the crowd feel this is now acceptable?
It’s part of the game. It’s the sign of a crowd that, watching on TV, seemed completely engrossed in a Calcutta Cup match which swung all over the place. It’s not going to be perfect in a match which is that closely contested. The Allianz Stadium has been playing a real role in England’s games over the last few visits. I would prefer them to be completely partisan and on England’s side, for sure.
‘England have to back themselves’
Ben Chater asked: Why can England not produce quick ball from the base of the ruck and what do they need to do in order to actually start producing some?
Well they need some ball full stop, they just did not get any. They were fighting for everything, really. They made a third of Scotland’s passes. They need to look at how they generate ruck speed, because they will slow it down for those box kicks. They have to back themselves that little bit more, to trust people. Put in two passes and give your back-three options. At the moment they are playing so tight that you are in the melee, the mess. Scotland are so good over the ball that if you give them jackal opportunities, you need to move the ball elsewhere.
‘England defended outstandingly well’
Helen Mitchell asked: Do you think England have just been lucky against a sub par France and Scotland… and does their lack of tries [in the Scotland match] worry you?
We have had performances where we have lost games we looked as though we were about to win. For once, I’m pretty happy that we have not really had a performance and we found a way to win a game we should have lost. We should be happy about it.
Is this team in a place where they can run it out or strike from their own 40, I don’t think they’re there yet. They did what needed to be done, defended outstandingly well. Personally, I am just happy to get that win against the run of play. I don’t think it was like France where they blew basic opportunities. England defended and stopped Scotland from scoring, earned every turnover they had. You have those games where things do not connect for you yet England have come out of it with a win.
‘Fans think losing is hard for them, it is way harder for players’
John Mackenzie asked: Have you ever lost your tether when in an England losing streak and, if so, how did you manage to get back on an even keel?
I don’t know why we’re talking about losing streaks when England have won their last two, but, the easiest thing when you are losing is to say you need to train harder. Sometimes that isn’t the answer. Sometimes you need to relieve pressure, allowing players to go and enjoy themselves. Fans think losing is hard for them, it is way harder for the players. You can get tight and not be yourself, take risks, try to be safe to get the win which leads to more errors. One of the things you have to do is remember why you are playing the game; to enjoy it, remember why you love it. You have to be able to have the freedom to do that and then the performances will come.
‘I think Fin Smith has a chance’
Charlie Atkinson asked: How many England players would Andy Farrell select for the Lions tour this summer? Not very many I suspect
Certainties would be Ellis Genge, Maro Itoje, I think Will Stuart has played himself into a spot. Ben Earl. I think Fin Smith has a chance. Lawrence has a chance. Marcus Smith and Tommy Freeman have chances. From an individual perspective, if you can succeed in a team which is not going well, then you personally are doing quite well.
‘Slade’s opportunities with England are limited’
Rob Snowling asked: Are Lawrence and Slade England’s best centre combination, or is it time to try something new?
I think so. I said recently that it is nice to actually have some consistency in selection. If you go through their importance in recent weeks, they have been massive. One hundred per cent they are not involved in the game enough, but again I think this falls – and I have said it for a long time because we know what Slade can do with Exeter – his opportunities to get his hands on the ball with England are limited. That falls on his doorstep and the structure of the team. How often would England do what Scotland did, going off a five-man line-out and missing the forwards to go straight to Huw Jones to go have a run. That is where England do not create those opportunities for people to have a go.
‘There is still a question mark around Borthwick’
Deane Pennick asked: Are England just an average side or is it style in which the coaches are asking them to play in that makes such an average team to watch? So should Borthwick go?
They had a bad game in attack against Scotland. Think about the tries they scored in the autumn. There is still a question mark around Steve and that is going to be something he and the team can answer. Is he going to stick to his structures but find a way for individuals to perform in games. If you combine all of Ollie Lawrence’s touches, he has probably had a fifth of the other centres but generated more offloads and assists than any other. My sense is they have to get the backline into the game more and they under use it. The only people who can change that are Steve and Richard Wigglesworth with what they are trying to do.
‘England have played far more boring rugby than this’
Barry Byrne asked: Are England the most boring team to watch in international rugby?
One hundred percent. Go back to when Eddie Jones was in charge around 2020 and England kicked 40 times per game, that is the most boring you will ever see England play. Any time they got to an edge they would try and grubber it through, and would get charged down. Obviously their points difference is minus three but I fully disagree because they have played way far more boring rugby than this.
Telegraph Sport has teamed up with rugby podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby and the show’s sponsors Continental Tyres for the duration of this year’s Six Nations. To submit a question for next week’s Q&A, see here.
