RFU Backs Borthwick but Flags Multiple Six Nations Failings: A Deep Dive into England’s Red Alert

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has officially thrown its weight behind head coach Steve Borthwick, but the accompanying review of England’s disastrous 2025 Six Nations campaign reads less like a vote of confidence and more like a clinical post-mortem. After a tournament that saw England win just one match—a narrow opening-round rout of a Wales side that would finish dead last—the RFU’s assessment is unflinching: a lack of discipline, accuracy, and cutting edge were the primary culprits.

Borthwick, who took the reins from Eddie Jones in December 2022 and guided England to a surprising World Cup semi-final in 2023, now faces his sternest test. The review, led by RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, does not recommend a change in leadership. Instead, it demands a fundamental reset. “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,” Sweeney stated.

But what does this mean for a squad that has now recorded its worst Six Nations performance since the tournament expanded from the Five Nations in 2000? Let’s break down the failings, the faith in Borthwick, and what must change before the autumn internationals.

The Grim Statistics: Why England’s Six Nations Was a Historic Low

Let’s not sugarcoat it. England’s 2025 Six Nations campaign was a statistical catastrophe. The only victory—a 27-12 win over Wales in Round 1—proved to be a mirage. Wales, under Warren Gatland, proceeded to lose every other match, finishing bottom of the table. That single win meant England avoided the wooden spoon, but it masked a deeper rot.

The defeats were comprehensive: a tight loss to Scotland at Murrayfield, a humbling by Ireland at Twickenham, a tactical dismantling by France in Lyon, and a final-round capitulation to Italy in Rome. Four defeats in five games represent England’s worst return since the tournament became a six-team competition in 2000. To put that in perspective, even the chaotic 2018 campaign under Jones yielded two wins.

Key failings identified by the RFU review include:

• Discipline: England conceded an average of 11 penalties per game, often in their own 22. Ill-discipline at the breakdown and offside lines cost them field position and momentum.
• Accuracy: Basic handling errors plagued the backline. England’s pass completion rate was the lowest in the tournament, with 42 unforced errors across five matches.
• Cutting Edge: The attack lacked incision. England scored only 14 tries in five games—tied for the fewest among all teams except Italy. The midfield struggled to break the gainline, and the back three often looked isolated.
• Set-Piece Fragility: The lineout, once a fortress, misfired under pressure. Hooker Jamie George’s darts were intercepted or overthrown at critical moments, while the scrum failed to dominate against France and Ireland.

The review also noted a psychological fragility. England led at half-time in three of their four defeats but failed to close out matches. This is a team that, under Borthwick, has built a reputation for resilience—remember the 2023 World Cup quarter-final against Fiji?—but that backbone evaporated in the Six Nations.

Why the RFU Is Backing Borthwick (And Why That’s Unpopular)

Public sentiment is split. Many fans and pundits have called for Borthwick’s head, pointing to a win rate of just 52% since he took over—a stark contrast to Jones’s 73% in his first two years. Yet the RFU’s decision to retain him is rooted in pragmatism, not sentiment.

First, there is the World Cup semi-final run. In 2023, Borthwick’s England were minutes away from a final, losing 16-15 to South Africa. That campaign showed tactical nous and defensive grit. The RFU believes that blueprint is still valid, even if the Six Nations execution was abysmal.

Second, the review explicitly states that the problems are systemic, not singular. Sacking Borthwick would mean starting from scratch with a new coaching staff—likely including attack coach Nick Evans and defence coach Felix Jones—just months before the 2027 World Cup cycle begins. That is a risk the RFU is unwilling to take.

Borthwick’s strengths, as highlighted by insiders, include:

• Detail-oriented preparation: His training camps are renowned for their analytical rigour.
• Player loyalty: Senior players like Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje have publicly backed him.
• Adaptability: He shifted England’s style from Jones’s high-risk chaos to a more structured, kick-heavy game plan—though that same plan was exposed as one-dimensional in the Six Nations.

But the backing comes with a warning. Sweeney’s language—“thorough and honest review”—implies that Borthwick is on a short leash. Another poor autumn series against New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa could trigger a mid-cycle sacking.

Expert Analysis: What Must Change for England to Recover?

As a sports journalist who has covered England’s rise and fall over two decades, I see three non-negotiable changes if Borthwick is to salvage his tenure.

1. Revamp the Attack Coaching
England’s attack was predictable. They relied heavily on Marcus Smith’s creativity, but Smith was often starved of quick ball. The RFU review’s mention of a “lack of cutting edge” is a direct indictment of attack coach Nick Evans. Evans, a former All Black, is a superb skills coach but has failed to install a coherent attacking system. England need a second playmaker—perhaps moving Henry Slade to inside centre or giving Fin Smith more game time—to create mismatches. Without it, defences will continue to slide across and smother them.

2. Fix the Leadership Void
Jamie George, the captain, had a poor tournament. His lineout struggles were a microcosm of the team’s lack of precision. More critically, England lacked on-field decision-making. When the game tightened against Ireland and France, they reverted to aimless kicking. Borthwick must either restore Owen Farrell to the captaincy (if he returns from his sabbatical) or empower a younger leader like Itoje or Ben Earl to take control. The captaincy cannot be a ceremonial role; it must drive in-game adjustments.

3. Prioritise Physicality at the Breakdown
England were bullied at the ruck. The back-row of Earl, Tom Curry, and Alex Dombrandt is mobile but lacks a true enforcer. Ireland’s Caelan Doris and France’s Charles Ollivon outmuscled them. Borthwick needs to select a dedicated breakdown specialist—like Lewis Ludlam or a fit-again Jack Willis—to disrupt opposition ball and secure quick possession. Without that, England’s attack will remain toothless.

Prediction for the Autumn Series: England will win two of their three matches against New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. The All Blacks are in transition, and Australia are inconsistent. But the Springboks will expose the same flaws. If Borthwick can’t get a win over the world champions, his job will be in serious jeopardy.

Strong Conclusion: The Clock Is Ticking on Borthwick’s Project

The RFU’s backing of Steve Borthwick is a calculated gamble. It buys time and stability, but it also raises expectations. The review’s damning language—citing a lack of discipline, accuracy, and cutting edge—leaves no room for excuses. Borthwick cannot hide behind the “process” rhetoric. He must deliver tangible improvement in the autumn.

England’s worst Six Nations in 25 years was not a blip; it was a symptom of structural decay. The squad has talent—Smith, Itoje, Curry, and a promising crop of young backs like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso—but they lack cohesion and a ruthless edge. Borthwick’s task is to forge that cohesion before the 2027 World Cup. If he fails, the RFU will have no choice but to wield the axe.

For now, the head coach survives. But the clock is ticking. The Rugby Football Union has flagged the failings. The rest is up to Borthwick.

Source: Based on news from BBC Sport.