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Topsy Ojo has backed under-pressure England head coach Steve Borthwick to turn his side\u2019s poor form around at the World Cup in France.<\/p>\n
England have won just two of their nine fixtures in 2023 and will look to ignite their World Cup bid in their crucial opening Pool D fixture against Argentina on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Former London Irish and England player Ojo acknowledged Borthwick\u2019s side have not won enough games of late but insists they have the tools to create an upturn in form.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s definitely a lot of pressure on him (Borthwick) at the minute,\u201d Ojo told the PA news agency. \u201cHe\u2019ll know that he\u2019s not won enough games and the pressure comes down to how well this World Cup goes for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf England don\u2019t get out of the group then the pressure will increase tenfold and people will ask questions. I do (have faith in Borthwick and England), especially when I look at what he\u2019s done as a coach and the playing group.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think the players will turn up and, having watched them every week in the Premiership, I know what they\u2019re capable of.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can see what\u2019s starting to gel on the pitch and as a group under Steve and as they get used to playing with each other over a long period of time, they\u2019ll become more efficient, accurate and will start to take more of what they are creating\u201d.<\/p>\n
The former winger earmarked the number eight position as pivotal and called for improved defensive performances after England shipped 53 points to France in March and lost 30-22 to Fiji in their final warm-up game last month.<\/p>\n
The ITV pundit highlighted the responsibility of Ben Earl and Lewis Ludlam in England\u2019s opener as Steve Borthwick will be without Billy Vunipola, who picked up a suspension in England\u2019s 29-10 defeat to Ireland in August.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it will be Ben Earl initially or maybe Lewis Ludlam but whoever plays as eight has a huge responsibility in this team,\u201d Ojo added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe power and physicality game in rugby is huge and you need your ball carriers to carry 10-15 times a game and make three to five metres every time to put your team on the front foot and gain momentum.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf England can do that then they have the players and capability to run away with things but if they don\u2019t get parity or dominance in that area then it could be a long day for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDefensively they need to be doing way better, they\u2019re shipping far too many points and they\u2019ll know that.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they are able to defend well and efficiently by ideally turning the ball over early then the momentum they\u2019ll get from that will mean they can go and score points.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The 38-year-old hailed England\u2019s travelling supporters who will be eager to see them lift their first World Cup since 2003.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be great to see them,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see support in numbers as the energy builds and I think England are very well supported and they are lucky in that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n