Among the elements of Japanese culture that Eddie Jones has brought with him to the England head coaching role is the concept of misogi, a Shinto practice of ritual purification designed to refocus the mind, cleanse oneself of ills and re-establish harmony with everything around you. For his England side, this has generally taken the form of water-based physical activity and team-building, an effort to wipe the slate clean and unite the squad at the start of each campaign.
Perhaps England find themselves in need of fresh purification this week. While there were some positives to take from the loss to Argentina, an opening defeat and some all-too familiar failings left those leaving an inanimate Twickenham with an air of despondency, the first signs of autumn uninviting. A six-day gap between games left little time for deep contemplation – which Owen Farrell believes might be beneficial to his side.
