England Rugby, under the leadership of Steve Borthwick, faces mounting pressure as they enter the 2025 Six Nations Championship. Following a disappointing autumn campaign with only two wins against Japan, the team's performance will be closely scrutinized. The upcoming matches against Ireland and France present formidable challenges, with Twickenham facing internal turmoil amidst a Special General Meeting and criticism from MPs. Despite the pressure, Borthwick remains focused and confident in his approach, emphasizing the team's progress and commitment to an attacking style of play.
Borthwick took charge of England after Australian Eddie Jones, who he worked under at both England and Japan, was fired. Not even the most pessimistic of England supporters would have expected the side to win just two of their next seven matches – both against Japan. But for whatever reason – bad luck, composure, mentality, game-management, all of the above – that's where England find themselves in 2025; short on wins, and the pressure on.
England start this Six Nations how they finished it last time: Ireland followed by France. There is no hiding place. And while it feels as if Twickenham is under siege from all sides – a Special General Meeting is planned for March, while the union has again defended itself after criticism from MPs this week – head coach Steve Borthwick was in stoic mood when he announced his Six Nations squad. Borthwick insists he has not been distracted from the job in hand, and has had no edicts from his embattled bosses regarding either win targets or financial belt-tightening. 'At this point before the start of the tournament why would we not be going into every game aiming to win every game?' Borthwick told BBC Sport. 'It's what every England supporter would expect of me and the players and it's what we expect of ourselves. 'Ever since I have come into this role two years ago I have had nothing but support from the RFU about what we want to do. 'Our focus is about the Six Nations that is coming up, and how we get the performances and results we want to get.' Borthwick stressed all through the autumn that the team was progressing, and improving, and developing their identity, but he has made a big change ahead of the Championship. The reasoning makes sense: Itoje is four years George's junior, walks into the team, and is almost guaranteed to play 80 minutes. But George is one of the most popular members of the squad and led the side with real class on and off the field. It is a big call. Former assistant coach Felix Jones joined from South Africa 12 months ago and introduced a Springboks-style blitz defence. As a consequence, the defence was a mess in the autumn, although Borthwick also referenced how many line-breaks England conceded against New Zealand in the summer, when Jones was in situ.'I want the team coming off the line and putting the opposition under pressure. Will there be alterations and slight tweaks? Yes. There will be positional things that will be a little bit different.' Having played little rugby in 2023, England opened up in 2024, with Borthwick vowing to persist with an attacking style in 2025. 'I sense what the England supporters want to see is the England team continuing to move the ball and play with pace, because that is what gets them out of their seats.' England could find themselves winless going into the Calcutta Cup; a match they haven't won in five years. There is a danger it could unravel. But equally England are clearly not far away – of their seven defeats last year, the biggest losing margin was nine points. A win at the Aviva, and England will have renewed confidence ahead of three games in a row at home and a final-day trip to beleaguered Wales
ENGLAND RUGBY SIX NATIONS STEVE BORTHWICK PRESSURE IRELAND FRANCE TWICKENHAM
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