ENGLAND coach Les Cusworth said major improvements are needed if his side are to hang on to their Rugby World Cup Sevens title.
Despite winning both of their second-round pool matches yesterday, Cusworth said his side were struggling to adapt to the Hong Kong conditions as well as maintain a standard of sevens play comparable to the likes of Fiji and New Zealand. Even with the Kiwis playing below their best, Cusworth puts them among Fiji and South Africa as favourites to win.
England beat Canada 30-7 in their first match yesterday before coming from behind to down the Cook Islands 29-10.
'We have a lot of work to do,' said Cusworth. 'In order, I would put Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa as the best teams so far.
'Fiji have been very good. They are natural sevens ball handlers, they have good support and re-alignment, there is good support for the ball carrier and most importantly, they understand the sevens game.
'With the wet and humid conditions, it's that kind of understanding which will be important in this kind of tournament.' Neil Back, who captained the side in place of the rested Tim Rodber in both games yesterday, was even more blunt: 'If we don't improve there is no way we will be able to win. 'You have to keep possession. If you don't have the ball, you won't score.' Five of England's triumphant 1993 squad are in Hong Kong for the second edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens. Although it rained in Edinburgh as it has in Hong Kong over the past few days, the humidity is something that the England players are finding difficult to handle.
