Matt Dawson column: 'England players now double in size in shirt'

The England national rugby team's form has been nothing short of phenomenal in recent times. After a period where the players seemed hesitant and inhibited, they have now become a force to be reckoned with on the pitch. The latest thrashing of Wales by seven tries is a testament to this newfound confidence and swagger.

Former England scrum-half Matt Dawson notes that the team's performance has changed significantly since the days when the England shirt used to weigh heavy on the players. They are now enjoying their rugby, and it's showing in their play. The pressure seems to have been alleviated, allowing them to express themselves freely.

One player who embodies this newfound confidence is Tommy Freeman. His rapid approach to world-class status has been impressive, with his pace, size, and aerial ability making him a formidable opponent on the pitch. As he continues to grow in his role as centre, Freeman is rapidly becoming an integral part of England's midfield depth.

The versatility of England's midfield options is now starting to pay dividends. With players like Ollie Lawrence, Max Ojomoh, Seb Atkinson, and others vying for a place, coach Steve Borthwick has the luxury of being bold with his team selection. This adaptability is a quality that will serve England well in their upcoming matches.

Borthwick's ability to create competitive internal environments is also noteworthy. His willingness to shake up the squad selection for the tournament, as seen in France, has given him an edge in terms of team dynamics and cohesion. The new faces have pushed established players to raise their game, and it will be interesting to see how this dynamic plays out against Scotland.

The stage is now set for a thrilling showdown between England and France on March 14th. While the expectation around their final-round meeting has risen significantly, Borthwick's bold approach to team selection and his ability to adapt to different opponents will be key in determining the outcome of this encounter.
 
πŸ€” I'm loving England's rugby form right now, but can't help thinking that they're still a bit one-dimensional on defense 🚫. All this confidence and swagger is great, but they need to work on defending against those tricky backline attacks 🌠. Still, with players like Freeman and the new midfield options, I'm excited to see how they adapt and evolve πŸ’ͺ🏽. Coach Borthwick's been doing a great job of mixing things up and pushing the established players to step up their game πŸ‘Š. Bring on the France match and let's see if England can live up to all the hype πŸ“Ί!
 
[Image of Owen Farrell with a satisfied smirk, captioned "When you finally find your groove πŸ˜ŽπŸ‰"]

[Meme of a rugby player running away from the ball with a " Got this!" expression]

[Tommy Freeman running with a lightning bolt around his head, speed lines and a goalposts in the background, captioned "Freeman on fire πŸ”₯πŸ”΄"]

[Image of Steve Borthwick giving a thumbs up, with a " Coach mode activated" speech bubble]
 
I think its crazy how far england rugby has come since those lost matches a few years ago πŸ€―πŸ‰...the way they're playing now is like night and day, everyone's so confident on the pitch! Tommy Freeman is defo one to watch, that guy's got pace and skill for days πŸ˜‚. But what's really interesting is how well england are handling the pressure now, they seem to be enjoying their rugby which makes all the difference πŸ‘
 
just watched that Wales game πŸ€―πŸ‰ england is on fire! πŸš€ matt dawson makes so much sense about how far the team has come. it's amazing how much pressure can weigh you down, but now they're just enjoying the game and it shows in their play 😊. tomy freeman is like a gazelle out there 🐏🌟 and the midfield options are so versatile it's like they have a whole team of superstars 🀩. steve borthwick must be doing something right with that squad management πŸ‘ can't wait for england vs france on march 14th πŸŽ‰πŸ’ͺ
 
πŸ€” I'm not sure about all this hype surrounding England's rugby team... They're still a far cry from being unbeatable! The more they win, the more it feels like luck is on their side πŸ€. Can't help but think they'll come crashing back down to earth sooner rather than later 😏. And what's with all these new faces in the squad? I mean, don't get me wrong, Ollie Lawrence is talented and all that, but can we really rely on a bunch of fresh faces to carry them through the tough stuff? πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ
 
OMG, I'm so stoked for England's rugby team right now 😊! They've totally flipped their game around and it's amazing to see them playing with such confidence and swagger 🀩. Matt Dawson is spot on about how much of a difference it makes when the players enjoy themselves - it really shows in their play πŸ’₯.

I love watching Tommy Freeman play too, he's got that electric pace that just draws you in πŸ”΄. And the midfield depth is getting better by the match, it's so cool to see those different players vying for a spot 🀝. Steve Borthwick is doing an awesome job of shaking things up and keeping everyone on their toes, I'm excited to see how he navigates the tournament πŸŽ‰.

Scotland's gonna be a tough one, but I think England's got this 😏. The atmosphere's gonna be electric at that match on March 14th, can't wait to tune in! πŸ’₯
 
I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a bunch of fit guys run into each other on the pitch all day? πŸ˜΄πŸ‰ It's not like I have anything better to do than follow the latest rugby updates... oh wait, I do! πŸ™„ But seriously though, it'll be fun to see how England takes on France. Can't wait for the inevitable post-game analysis and "expert" opinions that will probably just rehash what everyone else said πŸ˜’
 
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