RFU backs Borthwick but flags multiple Six Nations failings

The Rugby Football Union demands improvement from England head coach Steve Borthwick after their worst-ever Six Nations campaign. By Mike Henson BBC Sport rugby union news reporter Updated 19 minutes ago Head coach Steve Borthwick has been backed to turn around England's form after a Rugby Football Union review blamed a lack of discipline, accuracy and cutting edge, among other factors, for a dismal Six Nations campaign. England's only victory was an opening-round rout of Wales, who would go on to finish bottom of the table. Defeats in their other four games constituted England's worst performance since the tournament's expansion from the Five Nations in 2000. "This has been a thorough and honest review, and it is clear that improvement will come from addressing several areas rather than chasing one simple answer," said RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney.

"This is a young England team that is still growing and developing, and we understand progress in international sport is rarely linear. "Steve has engaged in this process with full openness and has clear plans in place to address these findings. "We are all behind him and his coaching team going into the Nations Championship and the series of matches leading into Rugby World Cup 2027." A dissection of England's performance, carried out by an unnamed panel of rugby figures who interview coaches and players, is standard practice after a Six Nations campaign. The RFU says "performance confidentiality in a competitive sporting environment" prevents them revealing full details of England's shortcomings. However, it did say they came in multiple areas, while adding that Borthwick's case was strengthened by the year-long winning streak England compiled immediately before their dip in form.

"The review concluded that, despite coming off a 12-game winning run, England's underperformance across the Six Nations was not the result of a singular failure or issue," it said. "England head coach Steve Borthwick has engaged in the review with honesty and rigour, and he and his coaching team are already addressing issues identified." During the Six Nations, England picked up eight yellow cards, two of which combined to make Henry Arundell's 20-minute red against Scotland, undermining their efforts. It was the highest number of cards received by any team in a tournament campaign since Italy's ill-disciplined 2002 showing. England kicked the ball more than any other team in the Six Nations, frequently frustrating fans with the lack of variety in their gameplan. "The way in which the team aspires to play was clear throughout the review," added the RFU.

England's next match is in Johannesburg against world champions South Africa on 4 July, before games against Fiji and Argentina on the following weekends. England's first match at the Rugby World Cup, a pool-stage meeting with Tonga in Brisbane, is less than 16 months away. By Chris Jones Rugby union Correspondent Steve Borthwick received qualified support from his RFU bosses during the Six Nations, but a few months on - and a "detailed and robust review" later - the England head coach has had his hand strengthened, with Twickenham chiefs, both in public and private, reiterating he is the man to take England through to the World Cup next year. The RFU statement leaves other questions unanswered. It doesn't take a forensic review for England fans to learn the team had too many yellow cards and didn't execute well enough during the Six Nations; they have eyes and watched the games.

However, why England's 2025 progress stalled so dramatically, and why the team regressed so alarmingly, is still unexplained, in public at least. The only currency is winning, and England need to do that this summer to keep the supporters believing. Those at the top of the RFU are confident the lessons of the Six Nations have been learned, and the team is set for a bright future. The Rugby Football Union demands improvement from England head coach Steve Borthwick after their worst-ever Six Nations campaign. RFU backs Borthwick but flags multiple Six Nations failings