Patience a virtue as new-look England yet to click

Steve Borthwick's side have failed to fire.

EVOLUTION: England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth during the England rugby captain's run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Nine points scored in defeat to Wales at the start of the month, 19 in victory against the same opposition last week. Just the one try. Cut that any way you want and it equates to a worryingly blunt age for Steve Borthwick’s England.

George Ford was quizzed on that very point this last week and the out-half’s response was to suggest that the squad’s attacking game is closer than it looks right now to the naked eye. It was an explanation basically asking for trust and patience.