BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
England head coach Steve Borthwick has received the full backing of the Rugby Football Union leadership despite a dramatic collapse in form that has left the national team facing the prospect of one of its worst performances in the history of the Six Nations Championship.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney reaffirmed the governing body’s support for Borthwick following England’s shock 23–18 defeat to Italy national rugby union team in Rome, a result that marked the first time Italy had beaten England in the competition. The loss compounded a string of setbacks that have sent England tumbling down the standings after entering the tournament as one of the leading contenders for the title.
England currently sits fifth in the table heading into the final round of matches, a stark contrast to the optimism that surrounded the team only weeks earlier. When England delivered a commanding 48–7 victory over Wales national rugby union team in the opening round, it extended the team’s winning streak to 12 consecutive Test matches and reinforced expectations that Borthwick’s side could challenge for the championship.
Those ambitions quickly unraveled. England suffered successive defeats to Scotland national rugby union team and Ireland national rugby union team, results that effectively ended its title hopes. The setback in Rome against Italy deepened the disappointment and delivered one of the most surprising outcomes of the tournament.
For much of the contest at the Stadio Olimpico, England appeared to have regained control. The visitors held an 18–10 lead approaching the final quarter of the match and were managing the game with relative composure. However, the momentum shifted dramatically following two costly disciplinary incidents that left England temporarily reduced to 13 players.
Flanker Sam Underhill received a yellow card for head contact, and captain Maro Itoje was also sent to the sin bin for a cynical foul during a defensive sequence. With England short-handed, Italy seized the opportunity and mounted a decisive comeback.
Italy, which had lost its previous 32 Test matches against England, produced a remarkable surge late in the game, scoring 13 unanswered points to claim the historic victory. The result not only ended decades of frustration for the Italian side but also intensified scrutiny surrounding England’s faltering campaign.
Despite the mounting criticism, Sweeney made it clear that the RFU leadership has no intention of abandoning its current coaching setup.
“After a 12-match winning run, these past three results have been hugely disappointing and we feel that just as much as everyone else,” Sweeney said in a statement addressing the team’s struggles. “Steve and his coaching team are working tirelessly to make improvements and we remain fully committed to supporting them and the players as they face France this weekend and then look ahead to the Nations Championship.”
Sweeney emphasized that the governing body intends to confront the team’s shortcomings openly while maintaining stability in the coaching structure.
“Part of that support is being open about what hasn’t gone right during this Six Nations and making sure everyone has a clear sense of how we move through those challenges together,” he said.
England’s final match of the championship will take place against France national rugby union team in Paris at the Stade de France. The fixture was originally envisioned by Borthwick as a potential title decider when he spoke ahead of the tournament in January. Instead, England now faces the possibility of finishing fifth and recording four defeats in a single championship — a scenario that would represent the team’s poorest campaign in half a century.
Sweeney acknowledged the gap between expectations and reality, noting that the organization would work closely with the coaching staff to understand the causes of the team’s decline.
“We will work together to understand and rectify why we have been unable to meet the expectations and anticipation going into these games,” he said. “England fans rightly expect a team that learns and grows through adversity, and we’re confident this group will do everything they can to deliver that.”
In the immediate aftermath of the defeat in Rome, Borthwick himself was asked whether he still believed he was the right person to guide England forward. The coach responded without hesitation, expressing confidence that the team would emerge stronger from its current struggles.
“Absolutely,” Borthwick said. “Right now this is a tough period, but what we will do is learn from it and make sure we are stronger going forward.”
Captain Itoje also moved to defend his coach, placing responsibility squarely on the players for the disappointing run of performances.
“We’re the ones doing what we’re doing on the pitch,” Itoje said. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that we apply Steve’s vision and his game plan, because he’s been very clear and very thorough, as he always is.”
Itoje added that the senior players within the squad must lead the effort to restore the team’s standards.
“It’s on us. We need to be better. Steve can’t play the game for us,” he said. “Myself as captain and the rest of the senior guys, we take responsibility. Steve is definitely the right guy for the job. He’s a fantastic coach.”
With one match remaining, England’s focus now turns to salvaging pride against France and attempting to end the tournament on a positive note. Regardless of the final result, the campaign has exposed significant challenges for a team that only weeks ago appeared poised to contend for one of European rugby’s most prestigious titles.
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