Former World Cup-winning England centre Will Greenwood has shared an honest, emotional message on social media with regard to the state of the current national side.
England slumped to a 27-13 loss to South Africa at Twickenham to end their Autumn campaign which Greenwood called the most ‘soul-destroying’ game he has attended at the home of England Rugby.
The 55-Test international didn’t hold back in his assessment of how England played, claiming they were ‘scared of their shadows’ in a performance that many have labelled an abject failure.
“That was one of the most soul-destroying, demoralising, games of rugby I think I’ve ever been to at Twickenham,” Greenwood said in video published online.
“The side look completely devoid and shot of ideas. Scared of it’s own shadow, beaten up, out-played, out-muscled, out-thought.
“This year, played 13 and won five. Scotland win the Calcutta Cup every time they play us.”
As head coach Eddie Jones continued to look for the positives out of the loss, claiming England are heading in the right direction, Greenwood wasn’t buying the rhetoric.
Can’t remember the last time I felt so frustrated after watching an Eng rugby team play. Serious reboot of some kind needs to happen for the players to rediscover their brilliance.
— Jeremy Guscott (@JeremyGuscott) November 26, 2022
A bad day at Twickenham..unless you are South African. They had a good tour. Performance levels extremely high. Development of their game good….unlike England
— Stuart Barnes (@SBarnesRugby) November 27, 2022
The RFU announced a review will be undertaken with a ‘series of meetings’ but that wasn’t enough to appease rugby writer Stephen Jones who called the action ‘pathetic’.
Breaking: great news for suffering England fans. The RFU announce this morning that they are to talk about their team's abject failure in committee meetings! A review panel (which wants to remain anonymous) "will hold a series of meetings." Pathetic. You could not make it up
— Stephen Jones (@stephenjones9) November 27, 2022
“They (England) finished 2022 fifth in the world and Jones is once again on course to miss a performance target set out by the RFU of winning 80 per cent of Tests in a season having done so in 2021-22 too.” @willgkelleher @TimesSport
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) November 27, 2022
