Dumsha Wijesinghe JadeTimes Staff
W.G.S.D.Wijesinghe is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Sports News
Full back George Furbank emphasized England's intent to learn from their recent series of narrow defeats to New Zealand as they gear up to face Australia in the Autumn Nations Series. England experienced three close losses, twice in New Zealand during the summer series and once at home last Saturday, where they fell short by just two points at Allianz Stadium.
In addition to the New Zealand matches, England also faced a narrow defeat earlier this year, losing 33-31 to France in their final Six Nations game after a last minute penalty from Thomas Ramos. Furbank, 28, highlighted the team’s focus on improving discipline and making smarter decisions in the final stages of games to close them out more effectively.
Reflecting on last week’s game, he noted the number of penalties England conceded in the final quarter, especially in contrast to the early game. "We need to be smarter, giving ourselves territory and securing the win, and we need to incorporate these learnings more quickly," he added. The goal is to "make good decisions" and deny the opposition any momentum in critical moments.
Furbank acknowledged that despite dominating the scrum in the first half against New Zealand, England lost their edge in the second half, resorting to box kicking for territory as their set piece faltered. Fly half George Ford missed late penalty and drop goal attempts that could have sealed the win. Former England wing Ugo Monye noted that England may be better off focusing on a more open, try driven style of play rather than engaging in tight, tactical contests, especially if they lack dominance in areas like the scrum.
England’s recent record against Australia ten wins in their last eleven encounters positions them as favorites in their upcoming clash, but Furbank emphasized the importance of playing with England’s characteristic style. “We probably didn’t move the ball as effectively as we could have [against New Zealand] and missed a few opportunities,” he said, stressing the need to "put our DNA on the pitch" and strike a balance in attack.
Following Australia, England will face world champions South Africa, a team known for excelling in close games. Monye pointed out that South Africa’s success in tight contests comes from their balanced approach, including reliable goal kicking by Handre Pollard and powerful options in both their scrum and line out. "If you don’t have that weaponry, it’s not worth the risk," he observed, underlining the importance of having multiple tactical strengths in pressure situations.
As England prepares for these high stakes matches, they aim to integrate these insights and elevate their decision making in closing phases, balancing discipline with an adaptable game plan.
