The England head coach, Steve Borthwick, continues to enjoy the unwavering support of the Rugby Football Union, despite enduring four consecutive losses, according to the Guardian. England has secured victory in only four out of their 10 Test matches in 2024 and has suffered defeat in six of their last seven encounters against top-tier opponents. On Saturday, they conceded a record number of points against Australia at Twickenham, once again faltering at the brink of victory. Since Borthwick assumed leadership in December 2022, the team has maintained a 50% winning record.
Eddie Jones was dismissed two years ago following a series of five wins in 12 matches. With the back-to-back world champions, South Africa, scheduled to visit Twickenham on Saturday, Borthwick faces significant pressure to halt his own losing streak. However, the Guardian reports that Borthwick has the union's '100%' endorsement. His contract extends through to 2027, and it is understood that the union perceives England's current performance as distinct from the circumstances that led to Jones's departure. Privately, the union also highlights how close England came to winning their first two matches, with two missed kicks costing them victory in their opener against the All Blacks.
As customary, Borthwick will undergo an RFU review following the autumn campaign, which concludes with Jones's Japan visiting Twickenham on 24 November. There is no inclination to replace him, however. Saturday marks England's first encounter with the Springboks since last year's World Cup semi-final, and in recent years, they have demonstrated a tendency to deliver impressive performances under pressure.
"That wasn't acceptable and we will have an honest look at that," said Maro Itoje regarding the last-minute defeat by Australia. "Once we have done that, it's about looking forward to the opportunity, and we have an amazing opportunity to do something special, to create a memory for a long time." He added, "We have our backs against the wall a little bit. It's still a tremendous opportunity for us and that's what we need to be excited about. In times like this, it's tough. I definitely don't want to be in a situation or scenario like this. But it also presents a wonderful opportunity to use, and next week is a wonderful opportunity for us to take control of our narrative and get the rewards for our efforts." Itoje concluded, "So from our point of view, we want to come back here to Twickenham next week full of energy, full of bounce and just trip into the game, attack the game. And I think if we do that, I think we can get the job done."
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
