RFU CEO Bill Sweeney issued a statement of confidence in head coach Steve Borthwick on Sunday morning, but that statement effectively gives Borthwick four games to turn things around, starting with the upcoming match against France in Paris. This ultimatum follows a catastrophic Six Nations for England, which lost to Italy for the first time in 32 matches and suffered three consecutive defeats to Scotland, Ireland, and Italy. The team finished fifth in the championship, marking its least successful campaign in 50 years.
The RFU has initiated a review into England's performance, seeking feedback from players and exploring potential causes ranging from team culture and selection policies to tactical approaches. Despite the poor results, Steve Borthwick is expected to remain as head coach through the summer barring something spectacular.
England's tactical struggles and discipline problems were evident throughout the championship, with discipline being a key issue in losses to Scotland and Ireland, where red and yellow cards proved costly. After the Ireland loss, England reverted to a pragmatic kick-compete style against Italy, which limited their attacking potential.
Selection controversies and player performance issues were particularly apparent in the Italy match, where Borthwick made nine changes to the team, introducing new-look combinations. Marcus Smith has not started as fly-half for England since the second round of last year's Six Nations, despite previous success and statistics showing he had seven try assists in 2024 and was involved in 13% of England's tries. In the Italy game, Ben Earl had 20 carries and Jamie George had 10, but no other England pack member reached double figures.
Coaching structure concerns and player exclusions have also affected team dynamics, with England's coaching team being large, with many opinions, which may be a factor in their struggles. Tom Willis is exiled from the England team due to his impending move to Bordeaux-Begles.
England slipped to sixth in the world rankings. The upcoming summer fixtures include a match against South Africa in Johannesburg in July.
In unrelated football news, Roberto De Zerbi has been appointed as the new head coach of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Controversy surrounds De Zerbi's past comments, with reports indicating he defended Mason Greenwood, a credibly-accused sexual assaulter. Five Tottenham supporters groups publicly opposed De Zerbi's appointment.
Key unknowns persist regarding the RFU review's findings and potential changes to England's setup. Further uncertainties surround the underlying causes of England's discipline issues and tactical struggles in the Six Nations. Questions also remain about how Tottenham Hotspur will address the opposition from supporters groups to Roberto De Zerbi's appointment.