Steve Borthwick emphasizes the importance of discipline as England faces the All Blacks

England's assistant coach, Steve Borthwick, acknowledges the need for improved discipline as England prepares to face the All Blacks in a two-Test series in New Zealand. Despite an impressive 52-17 victory over Japan, England faced challenges with Charlie Ewels receiving a red card, Marcus Smith being sin-binned, and conceding 17 penalties. Borthwick emphasizes the importance of reducing penalties and tightening defensive gaps against New Zealand, expecting a higher level of performance from the team. Charlie Ewels, the first Englishman to be sent off twice in Tests, faces a likely ban that could rule him out of the upcoming series against New Zealand. While Borthwick refrains from commenting on Ewels' potential suspension, England's captain, Jamie George, expresses sympathy for Ewels, highlighting the lack of malicious intent in his actions. Both Michael Leitch and Eddie Jones also defend Ewels, suggesting his challenge was not intentional. Despite the disciplinary issues, Borthwick commends the players for their impressive performance against Japan, achieved with limited preparation time. However, he stresses the need for England to elevate their game significantly when facing New Zealand. Borthwick anticipates a higher level of play from the team in the upcoming series, emphasizing the importance of minimizing errors and maximizing performance against a formidable opponent like the All Blacks. The match against Japan provided an element of the unknown for England, with Eddie Jones coaching the opposition for the first time and showcasing a fast-paced style of play. Borthwick appreciates the challenge and unpredictability of the game, hinting at a potential post-match gathering with Jones for a beer. The experience against Japan serves as a valuable learning opportunity for England as they gear up to face the All Blacks in New Zealand.