Humiliated, disparaged and the object of global scorn for their lily-livered incompetence. But enough about the England rugby team. Last week was also deeply embarrassing for Sir Keir Starmer and his government. As President Donald Trump said of Britain’s Prime Minister: ‘This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with.’ One might say something similar about Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach. This is not Clive Woodward we’re dealing with. You remember Woodward, the man who in 2003 guided England to World Cup glory. 

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Those were the days when the England rugby team were the envy of the world; now they are the inept of the world. Pummelled by Scotland, thrashed by Ireland and mugged by Italy, England wrap up their Six Nations campaign with a visit to Paris tomorrow evening to face the tournament leaders. 

If the humiliation heaped on the Royal Navy last week by their French counterparts was painful, just wait and see what their rugby team will do to England tomorrow. Put it this way: England have as much chance of success in Paris as Labour do in May’s local elections. 

On reflection, the Labour government and the England rugby team have much in common. Let’s start with their leadership. 

Borthwick and Starmer are out of their depth. They are robotic,........

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