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Ben Earl has admitted it is time for England to start producing results after a frustrating 2024 which included just five wins.
Steve Borthwick’s side lost seven of their 12 games during the calendar year, with a string of narrow defeats during a five-game losing streak leaving them rueing their missed opportunities.
That run included last-minute defeats to New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham, with George Ford’s missed goal and Maro Itoje’s overhand restart proving costly.
Earl, who has started every match this year at number eight, is nonetheless encouraged by England’s progress.
But the 26-year-old admits that positive performances only count if victories don’t follow.
“Now is the time to produce results,” Earl said after the victory over Japan ensured a winning end to England’s fall. “The performances have been good but now we are feeling the pain. Results matter.
“If we beat New Zealand and Australia, those will probably be two of England’s great performances. Instead, the powers that be are overthrowing him in a different way. We probably learned this the hardest way possible over the last few weeks.
“I think we, as a group, have learned that the timing of when you think it’s a regulation is of the utmost importance. Another day we might have made a scrambled tackle, scored a goal, taken a kickoff. As far as where we are as a group, we’ve probably learned lessons from three campaigns in four weeks. This can only be a good thing.
England face a demanding start to next year’s Six Nations with a trip to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin followed by a visit to France at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.
Earl and his colleagues now return to their clubs for the next few months before reconvening towards the end of January for a pre-tournament training camp in Girona.
Saracens’ bottom line says the team has been challenged to continue to prove themselves in the Premiership and Champions Cup.
“I don’t think you ever have the mentality of being an international rugby player,” Earl said. “You are a player who has to be held to a higher standard than a standard club player.
“Whether it feels impactful or not, that’s what Steve is asking for and we’re asking for it as a group. We want to overflow with class. If someone has come and never seen a rugby match before, you want to be the one who stands out. This is the standard we need to set for ourselves so that when we arrive at camp in January, we are full and in great shape.
“The Six Nations is the toughest tournament in the world. Some seeds will be planted over the next few weeks as to what we need to do and where we need to be. We know we will be in great shape and will have great confidence going into this match at the Aviva. We can’t wait.
