It may have been a slightly subdued end to the autumn series compared to last years fantastic victory, but England’s defeat to New Zealand on Saturday still gave us plenty of reasons to be optimistic. We were left feeling that amongst the short term pain of a defeat, a long term gain looks like a distinct possibility.
If you talk to head coach Stuart Lancaster, he is adamant progress has been achieved.
"We are definitely better than when met up four weeks ago," he said. "The players have worked hard to get to the level we expect of them. We can't allow those standards to slip now."
We are now two years away from the next World Cup in 2015, fifty percent of the journey is still to go and a lot of room for greater progress is available. England’s victory over Australia and Argentina provided encouragement, but their performance against the world champions gave real hope. England have further chances to test themselves against New Zealand next year in a three test series and we should know if England really are closer to usurping the best team in the world.
So what have England shown over the Autumn internationals and where do they need to improve moving forward to the World Cup in 2015?
Pack to the Future
Its the return of the pack for this England team, in 2003 their success was built on a ferocious and effective pack, and there are signs of the traditional strength and power associated with team coming back in 2013.
Hooker Dylan Hartley provides a hard edge, and his leadership has seen him move ahead of Tom Youngs. Lock Courtney Lawes finally looks like the international player it was assumed he would become after bursting onto the scene in 2009 and Joe Launchbury is building on the potential he has shown in his first season.
Top Class Competition
In top class international sport the aim is to have as many high quality option as possible. In rugby with the World Cup approaching it is ideal to build a squad with at least two or three players of genuine Test quality fighting for every spot.
Lock Geoff Parling was a Lions Test player in the summer, but now finds himself facing an uphill battle for a start in his own national side, such has been the growing competition within the team.
It is a similar story throughout with many headaches popping up for the coach.
Missing in Midfield
England have shown that they require more power and guile in midfield, many players were missing because of the Lions tour and no one was missed more than Manu Tuilagi. His ability to breach the defensive line is unparalleled within the rest of the squad. England also often lacked the precision in their passing and will require more fluency if they are to have more of a cutting edge.
Outflanked by New Zealand
England's wingers have not been up to scratch recently and there has been little threat from wide positions. Chris Ashton has yet to regain his form and the comparison between England and New Zealand’s wingers couldn't be starker. New Zealand brought their two wingers into play at every opportunity, whether swiftly moving the ball wide to give them space to work in, or sending up inviting kicks for them to chase.
England fans have hope going into 2014…
England may never be able match the All Blacks’ mastery of the basics when it comes to creating and seizing a try-scoring chance.
However, considering they were under the pump for large parts of the second and third quarters, it was New Zealand's ability to come up with the big play when it counts that set them apart. Overall England did enough to suggest they are catching up fast and the fans can hold up hope of a very competitive England team at the 2015 World Cup.
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