Among the more misleading statistics from the opening weekend of the World Cup is that England missed 23 tackles against Argentina. That is just four fewer than in their dismal defeat by Fiji in their previous outing but whereas defensively they were dreadful against the Pacific Islanders, last weekend Steve Borthwick’s side, reduced to 14 for the most part, were inspired.
What changed in the space of two weeks? The defence coach Kevin Sinfield gave the players “a bit of a rocket” according to Freddie Steward and it seems clear that reading the riot act had the desired effect. If tackles were missed, the intent was evident from the first whistle.
