A Grand Slam should be seen as ‘stepping stone’ – Dawson column

Can we compete for the title of Grand Slam champion?

If I were an England player in the Six Nations next year, I would be asking myself that question.

Before the 2027 Rugby World Cup, England should be aiming for a Grand Slam.

That seems like the next step now that Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina have won this autumn.

Although I don’t believe you must do it to win a World Cup, it does give you experience in must-win games and the mindset needed to compete for the biggest prizes.

The standings of Steve Borthwick’s side will really be revealed in those away games of the 2026 Six Nations, particularly in Scotland and France, where England have struggled.

It’s not the end all and be all, but it would add another indicator for the future of the game.

They will absolutely want the medal, trophy, photo, and that line from their Wikipedia page that read “Grand Slam winners” for themselves.

Although they may not discuss it openly, I believe having that mindset is important.

This autumn, England found a way to accomplish what England had been looking for in both of their teams.

It will be crucial to have that problem-solving in your memory.

Borthwick is still obsessed with detail despite having won 11 games so far.

He deserves praise for his outstanding coaching staff, which has grown rapidly.

This England team has obviously progressed and advanced over the past two years.

Rugby is becoming increasingly difficult to play against because of its fundamental shifts.

Borthwick will enjoy developing both the squad and himself because of his focus on detail.

He was able to see the inside of the game, and he is now able to see that clarity in every way.

I anticipate him to examine what happens to teams that perform well.

Watch American rugby teams win in the soccer, cricket, or other sports and see how they continue to win big prizes.

When a team competes in the middle of a World Cup cycle and achieves its greatest status, there is a risk.

It has already been seen. However, both New Zealand and South Africa have won consecutive World Cups and consistently ranked as the best teams in the world.

Before 2027, the best team in the world is not a negative.

If England can topple to number one or two in the rankings by winning a Six Nations or Nations Championship, they will be in a strong position to reach the World Cup final. The ultimate goal is that.

I think about peaking too early, but everyone else does. When you complete your studies, these are the times when you excel.

England won’t go one-way to the World Cup, and part of the process is understanding how to recover from defeat.

In a strange way, I would like to see England lose a game at some point because it is unlikely for them to suffer their first defeat in a World Cup knockout match.

This autumn, England have shown they can win anything, and they have done it in perfect control.

It was always going to be difficult for them to recover from that emotional high against New Zealand, and they were only just miles away from resurrecting that famous semi-final victory.

However, they demonstrated that they can do it against Argentina.

The challenge is putting together a strong performance the week after, say, at Murrayfield.

When you’re on a winning run, you can really learn the in-depth details, as opposed to what was previously all about selection, playstyle, or injuries.

England doesn’t need to worry about that right now; it’s just about improving the little things that make you a top team.

These are the “one percenters,” or as Sir Clive Woodward affectionately puts it, the tiny details that determine everything.

The fundamentals are kept in place for winning teams, allowing coaches to concentrate on everything else.

These smaller elements have never had the opportunity to focus on those in the current England squad.

Ireland and France have both produced long-lasting victories because of this.