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

England's players now double in size in the shirt, but not in terms of physical stature. They have blossomed into a confident and cohesive unit, with each player bringing their unique strengths to the table. The team is enjoying its rugby, and fans are thrilled to be watching them.

The England midfield has been transformed by the emergence of Tommy Freeman, who is rapidly approaching world-class status. He brings pace, size, aerial ability, and an appetite for the ball, making him a formidable opponent in Test rugby. With his 23rd England appearance, he's already had 13 as a centre, and his partnership with Fraser Dingwall at 12 has been particularly effective.

Freeman's presence has given the team midfield depth, allowing coach Steve Borthwick to mix and match players according to the opposition. The ability to adapt tactics mid-game is exciting, and it's a quality that South Africa, currently the gold standard in world rugby, also possess.

Borthwick now has the depth to be bold with his team selection, and this newfound freedom will likely lead to more thrilling performances from England. With Henry Arundell's first-half hat-trick against Wales catching the eye, it's clear that the team is on the rise.

The key to Borthwick's success lies in creating a competitive internal environment, much like France's coach Fabien Galthie has done. The ability to motivate players to perform at their best will be crucial in England's upcoming matches, particularly against Scotland and ultimately, in the Grand Slam decider against France.

As England continues to grow in confidence and cohesion, fans can't wait to see what's next for this talented team. Will they continue to thrive under Borthwick's leadership? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain โ€“ the future looks bright for English rugby.
 
I'm so over how much the England rugby team has changed in recent times ๐Ÿคฏ. They're like a completely different team now! I mean, Tommy Freeman is a beast on the pitch - pace, size, aerial ability... what's not to love? But seriously, it's crazy to think that they've gone from being a bit of a mess to actually being quite cohesive and confident as a unit ๐Ÿ‘. And let's be real, it's about time someone gave Steve Borthwick some credit for figuring out how to motivate his players and get the most out of them ๐Ÿ™Œ. Still can't believe Henry Arundell scored three tries in one half - what a game-changer! But I do worry that they might struggle against teams that are more used to being on top, like South Africa or France... only time will tell if Borthwick's got the magic touch ๐Ÿ’ซ
 
๐Ÿค” I'm not buying it... just because England has a new midfield player who's "rapidly approaching world-class status" doesn't mean they're going to magically become the top team in rugby. Where's the data to back up Freeman's supposed greatness? Have we seen any actual stats or videos of him in action that show he's better than the other players? ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ’ช
 
I love how confident the squad looks now, they're all gelling together like a well-oiled machine ๐Ÿค! The addition of Tommy Freeman has really shaken things up and given them that extra oomph ๐Ÿ’ช. I'm excited to see how Steve Borthwick uses their newfound depth to keep opponents guessing ๐Ÿ”ฎ. The key to success is clearly creating an environment where players feel motivated and driven, reminds me of when my kids were younger and playing team sports - being part of something bigger than yourself was what got them through those tough matches ๐Ÿ˜Š. Will they make it to the Grand Slam? Only time will tell, but for now, I'm just enjoying the ride ๐Ÿš‚
 
๐Ÿคฉ can you believe it?! England's midfield is on fire right now! Tommy Freeman is literally unstoppable ๐ŸŒช๏ธ, and I love how they're finally starting to gel as a team ๐Ÿ‰. It's so inspiring to watch them play with such confidence and passion ๐Ÿ’–. The fact that Borthwick can make bold changes during games is pure genius ๐Ÿ˜Ž. This new dynamic is going to take England all the way to the top, I'm talking Grand Slam champ ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ’ช! And Fraser Dingwall is the real MVP right now ๐Ÿ™Œ. Bring on Scotland and France, I say bring it on!
 
lol I just saw this thread pop up now... anyway gotta say, England's midfield is looking fire! ๐Ÿš€ Tommy Freeman seems like a game-changer, brings that extra oomph to the table. Borthwick's tactics are getting more creative, it's exciting to watch! ๐Ÿ‘ And can't help but think of the Scotland vs France match-up, gonna be intense! โš”๏ธ England's on a roll now and I'm loving every minute of it ๐Ÿ˜
 
omg i'm literally hyped about england's rugby team right now ๐Ÿคฉ they're on fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ and it's all thanks to coach steve borthwick getting his midfield sorted out with tommy freeman coming in as a game-changer ๐Ÿ’ช he brings this level of skill and pace that's totally turning the tables for them. and i love how borthwick is now able to mix and match players mid-game, it's like they're getting away from being predictable ๐Ÿค” fans are gonna get to see some epic matches against scotland and france soon! can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented team ๐Ÿ’ฅ
 
I'm loving how England's squad has come together! They're really starting to look like a well-oiled machine on the pitch ๐Ÿ”„๐Ÿ‘. I mean, Tommy Freeman is just phenomenal - his size and pace are giving teams fits ๐Ÿคฏ. And with Steve Borthwick at the helm, he's got all the tools to create some seriously exciting matches. The fact that they're adapting tactics mid-game like pros is super impressive ๐Ÿ“ˆ! Can't wait to see what they do next ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿ‰
 
I think it's great that England's midfield has been transformed with Tommy Freeman on board ๐Ÿคฉ! He's brought a new level of excitement and unpredictability to the team, and his ability to adapt tactics mid-game is pure magic โšก๏ธ! It'll be interesting to see how coach Steve Borthwick uses this newfound depth to take on Scotland and France โ€“ I'm hoping for some thrilling performances ๐Ÿ‰! The fact that Freeman's partnership with Fraser Dingwall has been so effective is a great sign, and it's clear that the team is on the rise โฌ†๏ธ. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this talented squad! ๐Ÿ’ช
 
๐Ÿ‰ England's transformation from a mediocre team to a world-class unit is reminiscent of the UK's journey in politics - from fragmentation to unity ๐Ÿค. The emergence of Tommy Freeman as a midfield maestro is like the rise of new voices in Parliament, injecting fresh perspectives and ideas into the mix ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ. Coach Steve Borthwick's adaptability is similar to how a skilled leader adjusts their strategy mid-term, staying ahead of the curve ๐Ÿ’ก. France's success under Fabien Galthie's leadership offers valuable lessons on creating an internal competitive environment - will England replicate this winning formula? The stakes are high, but one thing's for sure, fans are eagerly watching the drama unfold ๐Ÿ“บ
 
๐Ÿค” I'm not convinced about Tommy Freeman being world-class just yet... ๐Ÿ‰ I mean, 23 appearances as a centre isn't bad, but how many of those were against top-tier teams? And what's with all the praise for England's midfield depth? Is it really that easy to adapt tactics mid-game? ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™‚๏ธ I need to see some numbers and stats before I start jumping on the Freeman bandwagon... ๐Ÿ’ป
 
OMG ๐Ÿคฏ, have you noticed how Tommy Freeman is like a puzzle piece that makes the whole midfield work ๐Ÿ’ก? It's not just about him being a skilled player, it's about how he brings out the best in everyone around him ๐Ÿ‘ซ. And let's be real, Steve Borthwick is like the mastermind behind all this - he knows exactly what to do to get the team winning ๐Ÿค”. But I'm not buying that everything is smooth sailing ๐ŸŒŠ... there must be more to it than just a great coach and talented players ๐Ÿค‘... maybe they're being influenced by some hidden forces ๐Ÿ˜...
 
๐Ÿ‘€ England's midfield has gotten a serious upgrade with Tommy Freeman! He's like a game-changer out there - so fast, strong in the air, and always chasing after the ball ๐Ÿ‰๐Ÿ’จ. The fact that coach Steve Borthwick can now play around with different players is super exciting ๐Ÿคฉ. It's clear they're learning to work together as a unit, and it's paying off ๐Ÿ’ช. With guys like Henry Arundell on fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ, I'm loving the way this team is playing. The key for Borthwick will be keeping that competitive vibe going - motivating his players to perform at their best ๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ‘Š
 
I'm not sure how long it'll take for England to actually deliver on their promises... Tommy Freeman sounds promising, but we've heard that before and been disappointed ๐Ÿค”. The fact that Borthwick can mix and match players just means he's gonna make more mistakes when he messes up his lineup ๐Ÿ˜’. I'm still waiting to see if they can handle the pressure of playing against top teams like SA or France... England's always got a way of choking under big games ๐Ÿค•.
 
I think people are overreacting about Tommy Freeman, he's not that different from other midfielders in world rugby ๐Ÿค”. And honestly, I'm loving how Steve Borthwick is experimenting with his team selection, it's refreshing to see a coach willing to take risks and try new things ๐Ÿ”„. England's got some serious depth now, so let's not forget about the rest of the squad, guys like Dan Robson and Jack Hawkins who are also making big impacts ๐Ÿ”ฅ. And can we talk about Henry Arundell's hat-trick against Wales? The kid's on fire! โšก๏ธ
 
Imagine a pyramid diagram with Tommy Freeman at the top :
|
|--- England Midfield
|
| |
| v
| Fraser Dingwall 23 appearances as Centre
| Henry Arundell Hat-trick vs Wales
|
| |
| v
| Steve Borthwick Coach's Secret to Success
|
| |
| v
| England Rugby Team
|
|
| South Africa
| Scotland

It looks like the team is getting more players with unique strengths and now they have depth, which will allow them to mix and match and be bold with their selection. This will make for exciting performances ๐Ÿ‰
 
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