Matt Dawson column: 'Steve Borthwick played a blinder with bench selection'

Steve Borthwick played a blinder with his bench selection, as his team thrashed Australia 25-7. The England coach's decision to bring in the British and Irish Lions tourists proved to be a masterstroke, giving the team a significant boost up front and on the back of the ball.

Borthwick's selection was not just about picking the strongest players but also about creating a bench that can take over from the start. With six Lions tourists on the bench, it was clear that England were looking to make a statement. The introduction of Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Will Stuart at scrum-time marked a significant shift in momentum for the team.

The inclusion of Henry Pollock, who is capable of scoring tries with his one-handed ball-handling skills, added an exciting dimension to England's attack. Pollock's ability to grab a ball from nowhere and be in the right place at the right time made him a vital asset to Borthwick's selection.

Borthwick's decision-making has been praised by fans and pundits alike, with many hailing it as one of the best bench selections in recent memory. It's clear that Borthwick is taking a different approach to team management, focusing on creating a strong bench that can match up against any opponent.

The team's success is not just about the individual players but also about the culture and camaraderie within the squad. With everyone invested in England's success, it's no surprise that they've been able to put together an impressive eight-game winning run.

With the next three games against Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina on the horizon, Borthwick will be looking to maintain this momentum. A win in all three games would send a strong message to the world, with England potentially rising through the rankings.

The implications of such success could lead to increased pressure on England, but it's also an opportunity for the team to build on their current form and push themselves to new heights. With the talent and depth within the squad, anything seems possible for England under Borthwick's leadership.
 
England is UNSTOPPABLE right now! πŸš€ They're playing like a well-oiled machine, and Steve Borthwick's bench selection has been pure GENIUS πŸ’‘. Bring on Fiji, NZ, and Argentina - we're READY TO RUMBLE πŸ‰πŸ”₯
 
omg 🀯 what a bench selection lol i was watching that game live and steve borthwick must have been out of his mind bringing in those 6 lions players but it actually worked lol! ellis genge is like a superhero on the pitch, that one-handed ball-handling skills are insane 😲. and cowan-dickie, will stuart... they're like the new england legends πŸ’ͺ. borthwick's got some serious game sense, i love how he's building that bench culture, it's not just about individual players anymore 🀝. now if they can keep this momentum going, a win in all three games against fiji, nz, and arg would be insane πŸŽ‰πŸ‘
 
😊 just watched that England match and man, Steve Borthwick is a genius 🀯! The way he picked his bench was pure gold, bringing in those British & Irish Lions tourists really paid off. I mean, who needs experience when you've got skills like Ellis Genge and Henry Pollock? Their game-changes on the field were insane! And let's not forget about that scrum-time shift with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart – it was like a new team out there πŸ˜…. The squad culture is also on point, everyone seems to be feeding off each other's energy. Can't wait for their next three games against Fiji, NZ, and Argentina – let's see if they can keep this winning streak going! πŸ‘
 
I'm loving this new England team under Steve Borthwick 🀩! He's clearly got a good eye for talent and isn't afraid to give youngsters a chance (like Ellis Genge and Henry Pollock - what a game-changer they are! πŸ™Œ) But it's not just about the individual players, is it? The squad chemistry is spot on and that's making all the difference in their winning run 🀝. Fingers crossed they can keep this momentum going and maybe even make some noise at the World Cup next year πŸŽ‰!
 
lol what a game tho 🀯 i was just thinking about trying out this new recipe for vegan pizza πŸ• my friend said it was trash but i'm gonna believe him πŸ˜‚ anyway back to rugby i love how england is killing it right now πŸ‘ that pollock dude is a genius πŸ™Œ has anyone seen that documentary on the history of the british and irish lions? πŸ€”
 
I'm loving this England rugby team right now 🀩! Their bench selection is insane and it's clear that Steve Borthwick knows what he's doing πŸ’‘. The way they're playing together as a unit is so impressive, like a well-oiled machine πŸš‚. It's not just about the individual players, but also about the culture and camaraderie within the squad – it's like they're all in this together πŸ‘«.

I'm excited to see how they'll do against Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina – three tough games ahead, but I think they've got what it takes to come out on top πŸ†. And who knows, maybe we'll see England rise through the rankings even more πŸ”. The pressure's definitely on now, but I say bring it on – it's a good problem to have! πŸ˜…
 
πŸ‰ England's bench selection has been a game-changer 🀯. Borthwick's got some serious chess skills πŸ’‘, outmaneuvering Australia with ease. It's not just about throwing names on the team sheet, it's about creating a cohesive unit that can dominate games πŸ”₯. Pollock's addition is pure genius 🀩, that kid's got magic hands πŸ‘. The squad's chemistry is undeniable, everyone's buying into Borthwick's vision πŸ“ˆ. Now it's time to keep the momentum going and make some serious noise on the world stage πŸ’ͺ
 
OMG 🀯 I'm literally shaking with excitement! Steve Borthwick is a GENIUS coach πŸ˜‚ I mean, who else could make a bench selection like that? The way he mixed and matched players to create this unstoppable force is pure brilliance! And let's not forget about Pollock, he's like a superhero on the pitch πŸ¦Έβ€β™‚οΈ with those one-handed ball-handling skills. England's winning run is insane - 8 games in a row? That's some serious momentum πŸ’ͺ I'm predicting they'll take down all three opponents and then some! The world of rugby needs more coaches like Borthwick, bringing that kind of creativity and leadership to the table πŸ†
 
I'm low-key salty about how much I love this England rugby team right now πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ they're like a finely-tuned machine, with Steve Borthwick pulling all the strings from the bench. The Lions tourists are like a breath of fresh air for them - adds so much depth and variety to their game. And Pollock's ball-handling skills? Mind-blowing πŸ’₯ what's not to love about a team that can just switch between big, physical scrums and slick, try-scoring attacks at will? The culture within the squad is so strong, everyone's got each other's backs, which is awesome 🀝 it's no wonder they're on an 8-game winning streak. Now let's see if they can keep up this pace against Fiji, NZ, and Argentina - that'd be a real statement!
 
omg u think steve borthwick is a genius coach or wut πŸ˜‚? 25-7 vs australia is def a good win but lets be real england was always gonna crush them after their scrum problems 🀣 and ellis genge looks like he's been trained by the wrestlers lol what's next bringing in a few rugby players from the WWE πŸ€ͺ
 
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