Former England head coach Eddie Jones has issued a stark warning to the Rugby Football Union, describing any potential decision to sack current coach Steve Borthwick as "foolhardy" despite England's disastrous Guinness Six Nations campaign. This comes after England recorded their worst-ever performance in the tournament's history, losing four of their five matches.
England's Catastrophic Six Nations Campaign
Under Steve Borthwick's leadership, England managed just a single victory throughout the entire Six Nations tournament, defeating Wales in the opening round before suffering four consecutive defeats. The campaign concluded with a dramatic 48-46 loss to France on Saturday, leaving England in fifth place overall. This represents the national side's poorest showing since the Six Nations format began, with expectations having been significantly higher for the squad.
RFU Review and Player Support
The Rugby Football Union is now preparing to conduct a thorough review of England's performance, though Borthwick continues to maintain the backing of his players and has already received public support from RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney. This support comes despite mounting pressure from fans and pundits following the team's disappointing results.
Jones' Strong Defense of Borthwick
Speaking on the Rugby Unity podcast, Eddie Jones, who coached England from 2015 until 2022 and previously worked alongside Borthwick when he served as an assistant coach, offered a robust defense of the current head coach. Jones emphasized that now is not the right time for another leadership change as England prepare for the upcoming Nations Championship, which begins with a match against South Africa on 3 July, and look ahead to next year's World Cup.
"Steve's done a good job with England," Jones stated unequivocally. "There is no doubt that they had a bad tournament, so he will need to show to the RFU that he knows why he has had a bad tournament, he knows how he is going to turn it around and I am sure he can do that."
Internal Struggles and Identity Crisis
Jones, who is currently in his second stint as Japan's head coach, suggested that England may be experiencing an identity crisis within the squad. "I think they are still struggling to find (their identity)," he observed. "I think Steve knows how he wants to play and I think there is probably an internal battle going on within the players."
He further elaborated on his position, stating: "I think (Borthwick) is the right man to coach England and I think they (RFU) should support him through this. Maybe he has got a few things wrong and they will need to help him rectify those errors, but they would be foolhardy to change."
Historical Context and Future Challenges
Borthwick took over as England head coach ahead of the 2023 World Cup, succeeding Eddie Jones after his departure in 2022. The relationship between the two coaches dates back to when Borthwick served as an assistant under Jones' leadership. This historical connection adds weight to Jones' current defense of his former colleague.
As England face crucial upcoming fixtures in the Nations Championship and prepare for next year's World Cup, the debate surrounding Borthwick's future continues to intensify. Jones' intervention represents a significant voice in the discussion, urging patience and continued support rather than immediate change despite the team's recent poor results.
