George Furbank will start for Northampton in their Champions Cup last 16 game against Castres on Friday night, marking a significant step in his recovery from a series of injuries that have plagued him over the past 16 months. His comeback coincides with England's record-breaking four losses from five matches in the Six Nations, which has intensified scrutiny on Borthwick and his coaching staff. The Rugby Football Union is conducting a review into England's least successful Six Nations championship for 50 years, reflecting the depth of the crisis.
Furbank has been riddled with injuries over the past 16 months, suffering a broken arm and subsequent calf issues during his rehabilitation. A metal plate has been implanted in his forearm, and a stress fracture around one of the pins in his forearm delayed his comeback. To mitigate risks, the Saints medical team have designed a bespoke ‘shin pad’ to protect Furbank’s limb in collisions.
His journey mirrors that of rock star Jon Bon Jovi, who slipped and ruptured his meniscus while performing to 40,000 fans in Helsinki a few years ago. Bon Jovi was advised to cancel his six-week European stadium tour after his injury but found a specialist doctor in Ireland who got him back on stage in a week. Furbank flew out to Dublin at the beginning of this season to tap into the same knowledge Bon Jovi received at the Sports Surgery Clinic, seeking advanced medical intervention for his persistent ailments.
England's Six Nations campaign was marred by historic lows, including a loss to Italy for the first time in 35 years and the prospect of four defeats in the same championship for the first time in half a century. Defensive frailties were stark, with England missing 35 tackles leading to a break or a try in rounds two, three, and four, more than half of which occurred in wide areas. Borthwick is the only England head coach in the men's Six Nations era whose team have conceded an average of more than 20 points per game, highlighting systemic issues.
Despite scoring 25 tries in the 2025 Six Nations, their highest tally in the tournament in nearly a quarter of a century, England's attack was inefficient. They made 48 entries into the opposition 22 and returned with only two points per visit, compounded by 14 handling errors in the red zone, the most of any team. This disconnect between the vibrant rugby England want to play and the pragmatic style they displayed, particularly after the Ireland match, was noted by Alex Sanderson, underscoring tactical shortcomings.
The RFU review is ongoing, with Borthwick expected to remain as England head coach for the summer, barring something spectacular. However, the exact findings of the review and his long-term future beyond the summer remain uncertain, adding to the instability. Furbank has not been consulted as part of the RFU review into England’s disappointing campaign.
We are all disappointed and frustrated.
Selection controversies further clouded England's Six Nations, as Borthwick named a 36-man training group for the new cycle, including three uncapped players: Greg Fisilau, Vilikesa Sela, and Emmanuel Iyogun. Notable omissions included Nick Isiekwe, overtaken by Arthur Clark, and Jack Kenningham, with Greg Fisilau preferred due to greater ball-carrying impact. Alex Dombrandt was left out, last featuring for England in June 2025, while Raffi Quirke fell behind Gus Warr at Sale Sharks and moved to Newcastle Red Bulls, and Ollie Sleightholme was omitted due to numbers rather than form.
Furbank's England prospects are under watch, as England’s coaches will be monitoring his performance closely. He featured in Steve Borthwick’s squad throughout the Six Nations but has not added to his 14 Test caps since 2024, with Elliot Daly finishing the turgid campaign as England’s starting full-back. In a backline loaded with Northampton players, it would be a surprise if Furbank is not given the No 15 jersey when the new Nations Championship begins at Johannesburg's Ellis Park against the Springboks on July 4, pending his fitness.
Northampton set up an Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster after beating Castres, but Furbank's comeback was cut short due to injury in that victory. Additionally, George Hendy dislocated his shoulder in Northampton's match against Castres, threatening his availability for England's summer tour. Injuries to England players Fin Smith, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles and Alex Mitchell will not help Northampton’s cause, though they remain favourites against Castres, who are eighth in the Top 14.
For the immediate future, Borthwick made just one change to the side that lost to Italy for the next match, with only the injured Tom Curry absent. Cadan Murley will start his second Test match in a row for England against France, and Ben Spencer is starting at scrum-half, indicating investment in him despite Alex Mitchell being the first choice. Fin Smith has been given assurances by Steve Borthwick that he is in England's long-term plans and is starting at fly-half, while Maro Itoje is starting as captain despite poor form, following the loss of his mother, and Henry Slade failed to see any playing time in the Six Nations.
Confusion surrounds Furbank's injury timeline, as he is a doubt for the start of England's Six Nations campaign after fracturing his arm, but it is reported that he fractured his arm in Northampton's Investec Champions Cup win over Bulls. This creates uncertainty about when and how his recent injury occurred, affecting understanding of his recovery progress and availability for upcoming matches.
Broader implications see England have slipped to sixth in the world rankings, reflecting the fallout from the Six Nations debacle.