Richard Wigglesworth oversees England’s defensive strategy within Steve Borthwick’s coaching structure.
Ahead of Saturday’s Autumn Series opener against Australia at Allianz Stadium, the England rugby coaching team has sought insights from their counterparts in the realm of cricket.
Head Coach Steve Borthwick and Assistant Coach Richard Wigglesworth convened with England cricket’s Head Coach Brendon McCullum and his staff in Manchester, prior to the upcoming Test match against the Wallabies at Twickenham.
Since assuming leadership in 2022, New Zealander McCullum has cultivated an audacious and expressive brand of cricket, colloquially known as ‘Bazball’. He is currently preparing to travel to Australia for the Ashes series, commencing on November 21st, where they will face their long-standing rivals.
Former England scrum-half Wigglesworth highlighted that McCullum’s psychological approach was of particular interest to the rugby coaching personnel.
“Our discussions covered a wide range of topics, with a significant focus on mindset,” stated the 42-year-old Defence Coach.
“I inquired with Brendon about his methods for instigating such a shift within English cricket, which proved to be incredibly insightful. We then delved into the specifics of one-on-one coaching techniques, his role as Head Coach in that context, and how it compares to the roles of his assistants.”
“We dedicated a considerable amount of time to this conversation and gained invaluable knowledge. They are certainly onto something positive.”
Following their initial match against Australia, England is scheduled to compete against Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina during the Autumn Series.
Concurrently, the England cricket team will participate in five Test matches, striving to reclaim the Ashes for the first time since their triumph in Australia a decade ago.
“They will undoubtedly give it their all, as English teams invariably do when facing Australia, and hopefully, we’ll secure a victory on Saturday,” expressed Wigglesworth, who served as part of the British and Irish Lions’ coaching team during their 2-1 series victory against the Wallabies in the summer.
“The rivalry with Australia is significant. Both teams relish playing against each other, given the underlying history. Bring on Saturday.”
England enters the match as the favored team against Australia, who currently hold the seventh position in the world rankings.
The Wallabies concluded the Rugby Championship in third place, having secured two victories out of six matches, and recently defeated Japan 19-15 in Tokyo with a largely altered lineup.
England’s cricket team has garnered acclaim for its enhanced freedom of play under the guidance of Head Coach Brendon McCullum.
Australia name Edmed at fly-half to face England
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