Home » In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

noviembre 4, 2025
7:30 pm

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

In his latest BBC Sport column, England World Cup winner Matt Dawson discusses England’s seven-try thrashing of Wales, Tommy Freeman’s performance at centre and the lessons coach Steve Borthwick could learn from his France counterpart. There was a time, maybe a couple of years ago, when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. The pressure seemed to inhibit them. They were not expressing themselves. Everything was safety-first and a bit meek. No longer. Now, that England shirt seems to make the players double in size. They have embraced this team and this stage and are relishing showing the Allianz Stadium crowd what they are capable of. They are enjoying their rugby. And we are enjoying watching them. Perversely, it is because the mood is so good around the team that coach Steve Borthwick and the players can be so focused on the bits and pieces which went wrong in the 48-7 win over Wales to open their Six Nations campaign. There were no cartwheels or laps of honour after the final whistle. The players looked like they were happy with the win but focused on the next task – and aware that they will have to be better when they take on a wounded Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. I really love that attitude.

‘The shirt used to weigh heavy – now England players double in size in it’