Autumn Nations Series: South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus says England head coach Steve Borthwick 'under pressure'
Published 14/11/2024 at 21:08 GMT
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England have not won a match since a 52-17 victory over Japan in June, and pressure is mounting on head coach Steve Borthwick. There have been mitigating circumstances, with three defeats to New Zealand by the finest of margins and a similarly-close loss to Australia. But South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus will be aiming to take advantage of any vulnerabilities at Twickenham on Saturday.
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South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus has described England head coach Steve Borthwick as a man "under pressure" ahead of their Autumn Nations Series meeting on Saturday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The Red Roses go into the match off the back of narrow defeats to New Zealand and Australia, while world champions South Africa beat Scotland at Murrayfield last time out.
England have lost four successive matches, having been beaten twice by New Zealand in July. And there is a growing sense that Borthwick is in need of a victory to change the mood around the national team.
"When you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or last-minute try, the pressure does start to build," Erasmus said.
"I’ve been there and certainly know how quickly that can get to you. Now Steve is a bit under pressure.
"Then one normally falls back on what works for you. They’ve been successful like that in the past, so we very much expect them to try and squeeze us with the kicking game."
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Asked how Borthwick might be feeling in the current situation, Erasmus said: “We have been on that side.
“Two or three years ago we lost three on the trot. It was almost four on the trot. It depends on the men in the room, the management. It depends on your CEO - they can make you feel like you have got a gun against your head.
“If you put pressure on coaches, it is not nice and you tend to make emotional decisions. But Steve is too smart to do that. Sometimes you try to please them a bit, but I don’t think he is that kind of man.
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“Hopefully the environment around him is for him to believe in what he is doing. Hopefully he will get the win next weekend [against Japan].”
South Africa will make 12 changes to the team who beat Scotland, so they will head into the England clash fresh and full of confidence.
England have made four changes following the defeat to Australia, with Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet, Ollie Sleightholme and Sam Underhill coming into the starting line-up.
"We're excited to challenge ourselves against the world's top-ranked team and back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions," Borthwick said.
"Test matches against South Africa are always thrilling contests, and I'm sure Saturday will be no exception."
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Watch every moment of the Autumn Nations series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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