England Coach Steve Borthwick Faces Intense Pressure to Restore Rugby Team Performance After Back to Back Six Nations Losses in Scotland and Ireland

There are moments in international sport when everything feels like it’s wobbling.

For Steve Borthwick, this is one of them.

Back-to-back Six Nations defeats to Scotland national rugby union team and Ireland national rugby union team have turned what once looked like steady progress into a full-blown inquest.

The table doesn’t lie. England sit fourth with one win from three, while France are marching away at the top and Scotland and Ireland have shown far more cohesion.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth about elite sport: sometimes you need a bloody nose to find out who you really are.

Why Mandela Matters Right Now

I’ve always loved a line from Nelson Mandela: “I never lose. I either win or I learn.”

It sounds simple. Almost too simple. But it cuts straight to the heart of what England must do now.

These defeats cannot just be absorbed and endured.

They have to be mined for lessons.

The next three weeks aren’t just about beating Italy.

They’re about deciding what kind of team England want to become.

Because if Borthwick leans into the learning rather than recoiling from the criticism, these losses could become foundational rather than fatal.

The Mirror, The Window — And Brutal Honesty

Leadership, whether in rugby or business, often follows a predictable pattern.

When things are rosy, you look in the mirror and tell yourself how clever you’ve been.

When they fall apart, you look out the window and blame referees, injuries, systems, anyone but yourself.

The turnaround only begins when you flip that instinct.

Ahead of a tricky trip to Rome to face the improving Italy national rugby union team, Borthwick must own it. Fully. No caveats.

No deflection. His players have underperformed, yes.

But the head coach sets the tone, the standards and the clarity.

That doesn’t mean self-flagellation. It means accountability.

I’ve Been There — And It Hurts

When I coached England, the setbacks were brutal.

Three Grand Slam chances slipped away. The infamous 1998 “Tour from Hell.”

And the darkest of them all — exiting the 1999 Rugby World Cup at the quarter-final stage.

The backlash was relentless. Media scrutiny. Former players circling.

Whispers within the RFU corridors. It is exhausting and, at times, humiliating.

After 1999, I barely moved for a week. Then came reflection.

Then came change. And eventually, redemption.

The only reason we emerged stronger was because we didn’t fracture.

We didn’t scapegoat. We owned it collectively.

Structural Questions England Can’t Ignore

This current wobble isn’t just about missed tackles or a malfunctioning lineout.

The overseas player rule continues to limit England’s depth.

Talents like Tom and Jack Willis are unavailable while Premiership sides are stacked with foreign imports. That imbalance matters.

It affects succession planning at hooker, prop, across the spine of the team.

Then there’s the coaching infrastructure.

Look at Ireland’s box last weekend: Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton, Simon Easterby alongside Andy Farrell.

Experience layered upon experience.

England have lacked that continuity since the later years of Eddie Jones.

If Borthwick needs more firepower behind the scenes, the RFU must be brave enough to provide it.

The RFU Must Step Forward

This cannot become a one-man blame game.

Bill Sweeney and Conor O’Shea should be visible in their support.

Rugby is not football. A public vote of confidence shouldn’t be code for an execution notice.

When I was in the hot seat, figures like Francis Baron, Fran Cotton and Cliff Brittle offered genuine backing.

That matters more than people realise. It steadies the coach and stabilises the squad.

Right now, Borthwick looks isolated. That has to change.

Leaders Must Lead — Properly

England are not short of strong characters.

Maro Itoje, George Ford, Ellis Genge and Jamie George have all worn responsibility before.

But reputations don’t win Test matches. Scotland outplayed England across the park.

Ireland came to Twickenham and dictated terms. Senior players were second best in key moments.

In rugby, you are either an energiser or an energy-sapper.

There is no in-between at this level.

The next fortnight will reveal which category England’s leaders fall into.

Forget The Talk — Fix The Basics

There will be noise about selection. Fly-half debates. Tactical tweaks.

It’s largely irrelevant if the fundamentals remain broken.

The scrum has held up. Beyond that, England have been sloppy.

The lineout has malfunctioned. Restarts have lacked precision.

Defensive alignment has been porous. Tempo has been inconsistent.

No side wins Test matches without set-piece security and defensive steel.

It doesn’t matter how creative you want to be — if you can’t secure your own ball, you’re finished.

Italy, under Gonzalo Quesada, are no longer pushovers. They will sense vulnerability.

Rome will be hostile. Every neutral will fancy an upset.

A Defining Fortnight

The temptation in moments like this is panic.

Call emergency meetings. Announce “brutally honest conversations.”

Invite everyone to have a voice.

Personally, I’d prefer clarity over catharsis. Set standards.

Demand response. Strip it back to work ethic and precision.

Send the players away for 48 hours if necessary — then return with purpose.

This is a crossroads.

If England respond, these two defeats will become the foundation of resilience.

If they splinter, the criticism will only intensify.

Write Borthwick off at your peril.

But he now has to show that these scars will strengthen, not scar permanently.

What’s Next?

First, Italy in Rome — and it is far from routine.

A loss there would transform scrutiny into crisis.

Beyond that, the bigger picture looms. Review the coaching structure.

Reassess player eligibility rules.

Examine whether central contracts are breeding comfort instead of hunger.

And crucially, re-establish identity.

England sides at their best are relentless, confrontational and clinical. Right now, they look hesitant.

The next two weeks will shape not just this Six Nations campaign, but the trajectory towards the next World Cup cycle.

Summary

England’s defeats to Scotland and Ireland have exposed flaws in performance, structure and leadership.

For Steve Borthwick, this is a moment of reckoning — one that demands accountability, clarity and strong backing from the RFU.

If England respond with resilience, sharper fundamentals and empowered leadership, these losses could mark the beginning of growth rather than decline.

If they don’t, deeper questions about systems and direction will only grow louder.

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