Balancing act for Borthwick as relaxed England aim to kick on

AS England's players let off steam with a headers and volleys warm-up session, Steve Borthwick kept the Red Rose squad's real World Cup balls in the air.

- Nick Purewal

In tribute to Joe Marler's headed assist for Courtney Lawes' crucial try in Sunday's 34-12 bonus-point win over Japan in Nice, England indulged in a classic game of football-tennis back here in northern France.

England always decompress when returning here, far from the World Cup's madding crowd. The squad jumped at the chance to prove themselves Marler's footballing equals on Le Touquet's indoor tennis courts yesterday - with varying degrees of success.

Tom Curry exploited his powerful neck muscles to deliver a thumping header, while Lewis Ludlam displayed some tidy footwork. Throw in plenty of agricultural hoofing, and England were in high spirits to launch themselves into another week's Test graft.

Once the window-dressing warm-up was at an end, the players ground into the detail of prepping to take on Chile in Lille on Saturday- and that is where the real juggling comes in.