Matt Dawson, who captained England on the infamous 1998 'Tour of Hell', has drawn parallels between that gruelling experience and the current summer tour schedule facing Steve Borthwick's side. The 2003 World Cup winner believes the itinerary, which includes matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina across three continents, will test players to their limits.
Echoes of 1998
In 1998, Dawson led England to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, suffering four Test defeats and three additional tour losses in New Zealand. Reflecting on that tour, Dawson said: "When I saw that schedule, I immediately thought back to the 1998 'Tour from Hell'. At the time, we were young and thought it was all great fun because we were travelling business class. It wasn't until we got to South Africa that we realised how difficult it really was."
He added: "The flight from New Zealand to South Africa completely knocked us sideways. We were all over the place for three or four days and then suddenly we were expected to play the world champions. Looking back, it was completely bonkers. I think everyone realised afterwards that it wasn't sustainable, and yet here we are talking about another incredibly demanding itinerary."
Current Tour Demands
England's summer schedule, part of the inaugural Nations Championship, sees them face South Africa away, Fiji in Liverpool, and Argentina away in consecutive weeks. Dawson noted the unique challenges: "The South Africa leg is manageable because the players are used to travelling and the time difference isn't huge. But once you add further long-haul travel into the mix, it becomes a real test of the squad."
England have already omitted captain Maro Itoje from the tour, citing a gruelling year both on and off the pitch, including the loss of his mother before Christmas. For other players, however, there is little respite following a disappointing Six Nations campaign that saw England finish with four successive defeats and their worst-ever finish.
Player Welfare Concerns
Dawson emphasised the physical toll on players: "There are no chance players will be at their absolute best throughout a schedule like that." He added that the travel to Argentina is particularly challenging: "From a player welfare perspective, asking players to finish a long domestic season and then undertake that schedule is demanding."
Despite the difficulties, Dawson believes head coach Steve Borthwick should not be judged solely on results. "I love the concept of the tour, but it's asking a lot. If England win a couple of those games, I think that would represent a good tour. I don't think anyone should be judging Borthwick solely on results in these circumstances."
Opportunity for Growth
Dawson pointed to England's improved performance against France in the Six Nations, where they narrowly lost to a late penalty, as a sign of progress. "For me, the key thing is performance, particularly against South Africa. If England show the same intent and intensity they produced against France in the Six Nations, that's a positive sign."
He concluded: "What encouraged me during the Six Nations, particularly against France, was seeing players take ownership. There was a sense that they recognised their own standards and reputations were on the line. If that mentality remains, they'll compete against South Africa, they should beat Fiji, and they'll certainly challenge Argentina."
Dawson is supporting the 'Keep antibiotics in play' campaign, launched by the Fleming Initiative with funding from GSK, to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance.
