As England's autumn campaign began, a pivotal meeting took place within Steve Borthwick's squad that signalled a significant shift in approach. The most important person in the room wasn't the head coach or any senior player, but rather David Priestley, the RFU's psychologist, whose presence underscored a renewed focus on mental fortitude.
The Mental Game Plan
Behind the scenes, the national side has placed enormous importance on ensuring players maintain total mental clarity during international rugby's decisive moments. This strategic emphasis comes after last November's painful period where England lost to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa by a cumulative margin of just 16 points. The prevailing criticism at the time was that when pressure mounted, England didn't know how to react effectively.
Experienced hooker Jamie George revealed the team's new approach: 'We're placing a big emphasis on what we're doing in our huddles. Our ability to come out with complete clarity when there's been a break in play and being composed allows us to be freer.'
Turning the Corner
The results of this psychological work are becoming increasingly evident. England now approaches their upcoming November 15 clash with New Zealand riding a nine-match unbeaten run, a stark contrast to their previous struggles in tight contests. Captain Maro Itoje and head of team performance Phil Morrow have been instrumental figures alongside Priestley in helping the squad overcome their mental battles.
In recent autumn victories over Australia and Fiji, familiar patterns have emerged where England's bench made significant impacts. More crucially, when opposition teams turned up the heat, Borthwick's players maintained their composure. George described the Fiji win as 'a bit of a masterclass in terms of composure.'
Learning From Past Pain
The hurt from previous narrow defeats continues to drive this team forward. Back-row Ben Earl reflected on their learning process: 'They're all learning curves, aren't they? I distinctly remember after the Eden Park game being like: "We will be better for this". We have been. You feel battle-hardened. You've got the scar tissue to learn from those losses.'
England lost three times to New Zealand in 2024, with the cumulative difference between the sides being just 10 points across those matches. This history of coming up just short has created valuable lessons that the team is now applying effectively.
The All Blacks Challenge
New Zealand represents the ultimate test of England's newfound resilience. Despite their hard-fought win over Scotland demonstrating their continued threat, even without the injured Jordie Barrett, England approach the match with quiet confidence.
Borthwick described his squad as 'growing quickly' and 'keen to learn,' acknowledging that 'next week is going to be a great assessment for us.' The team will need to be more clinical than ever, with every attacking opportunity crucial against a side George acknowledges it's easy to 'sit back in awe of.'
With full-back Freddie Steward returning to fitness after missing the Fiji match and wing Tom Roebuck potentially available, England possesses enviable strength in depth. Selection decisions loom, particularly at fly-half where Borthwick must choose between George Ford and Fin Smith, while Tommy Freeman's position remains another consideration after his livelier performance on the wing against Fiji.
As Earl emphasised: 'New Zealand are a ruthless team. The best teams are. Test rugby is brutal. You might get two chances in a game and you've got to make the most of them.' For England, this represents their opportunity to demonstrate how far they've truly come and put the rest of the rugby world on notice.
