England’s Six Nations Review Fails Under Scrutiny: What Steve Borthwick Needs to Hear

The recent release of the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) findings from their review of England’s lackluster Six Nations performance follows a somewhat predictable and rather disheartening pattern. The review, rather than the fifth-place finish itself, highlights a deeper disappointment in the process.

True leadership would have seen Bill Sweeney, the RFU’s chief executive, step forward immediately after England’s defeat by France in Paris. He should have affirmed that Steve Borthwick would continue as head coach, despite the unsatisfactory results. This would have sent a clear message of support and continuity while acknowledging the need for improvement.

Sweeney needed to assert that while the recent outcomes were below expectations, the RFU intended to stand by Borthwick, guiding the team towards the 2027 World Cup. Such a move would have shown a measured response rather than an overreaction.

Moreover, the RFU should appoint a qualified director of rugby, someone who shares responsibility for the team’s performance alongside Borthwick. This individual wouldn’t need to be present on the field daily but should maintain a strategic oversight. By consistently evaluating the team’s progress and providing support, they would ensure a dynamic, ongoing review process. Their reporting to the RFU board would guarantee transparency and accountability.

The current approach of post-tournament reviews by the RFU is flawed and reactive. By the time the reasons for failure are identified, the opportunity to correct course has already passed, and the tournament is lost. A more proactive and continuous assessment would better serve England’s rugby ambitions.

It is an insult to England coach Steve Borthwick to have to wait for Bill Sweeney and his RFU chums to make a decision on his future based on a ‘review’

England had a horror Six Nations, winning just one match and losing four. They were only saved from the wooden spoon by points difference

All you achieve is to question the credibility of your head coach. Elite sport moves fast. Solutions for fixing the 2026 Six Nations will not necessarily suffice for South Africa away in July, just like the recipe for winning 12 matches in a row did nothing to guarantee success in the Six Nations. 

High performance is an evolution and end-of-term reviews are too slow. I did not expect the RFU to share anything meaningful. But I did chuckle when I saw the line about England’s performance being undermined by ‘discipline, execution of opportunities and making the most of key moments’. 

This was obvious in February. What have they been talking about for two months? 

Equally, the idea that the RFU were aware communication needs to improve with the public is just PR speak. The only communication the team needs to worry about is what the scoreboard says. 

With real elite performance leadership, there would be no need for reviews. You already know what is happening and you either crack on or you make changes. But you do it quickly and without putting the most important figure – Borthwick – on the hook. 

The RFU love a review because it offers zero accountability. This brings me to my next point. I am embarrassed for those people involved in the decision-making who want to remain anonymous. How can we trust a process when those involved aren’t willing to put their name to it? 

Borthwick, his coaches, and the players have taken heaps of stick. Why should they play judge, jury, and possible executioner without any of the same responsibility? How can you call yourself an expert if you are not willing to be accountable? 

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has been leading the review into England’s Six Nations performance

I would love to know what the focus of the review was and who set that agenda? It looks as though it was centred around on-field performance. 

Yes, plenty can be improved there – including the team’s ambition, selection and kicking game, to name a few.  But that is for Borthwick and his coaches. Nobody at the RFU is qualified to speak on this and neither is any anonymous committee because they’re just not close enough to the action. 

The review I would like to see is this: Why have three former PREM clubs gone into administration? Why do we still only select players based at home and then accept them sitting on the bench in favour of overseas players? 

Why is there no relegation, creating meaningless games? Why have we allowed a cosy environment with central contracts that all but guarantees players England selection? Why do our top players exceed, or come close to exceeding, the number of games they are supposed to play in a given year? 

They are problems affecting England performance that nobody seems to be looking at. Amazingly, in the room next door, the women’s team is dominating the world stage because they are set up to do so. They outperform every other side long before they step on to the field, but the men’s team is held back. 

That is entirely of the RFU’s own making. They should have either decided to hire or fire Borthwick within a week of the France game. Instead, he’s had to endure weeks of purgatory, not helping him to focus on the task at hand which is simply the next game – South Africa in Johannesburg on July 4. 

The line from the review that pained me the most was ‘Steve has engaged in this process with full openness’. It made him sound like a suspect co-operating with the police! He deserves better than that. In sport and in business you have to think about how everything is perceived by your opposition. What will the rest of the world think? 

England even lost to Italy during the Six Nations, the first time they have been beaten by the Azzurri

England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie can’t bear to look after his side’s defeat in Rome

Do England really look more dangerous coming out of this in the eyes of France, Ireland and South Africa? While it will clearly be a mammoth task to beat the Springboks in their own backyard, England can deliver a result. They have the players and coaches to do so. 

But I worry that the weeks that have passed since the France game – during which Borthwick would have been unclear on his future – have not allowed him to properly move on and focus on beating the Springboks. 

I hope now he can, but time is of the essence. In the next two campaigns, I’d like to see Borthwick nail his colours to the mast in terms of his starting XV. England have the players. They can win in South Africa and if they do, then all the disappointment of the Six Nations will be forgotten. 

As I say, elite sport moves fast. But if it happens, it will be despite the RFU not because of them. Their needless review has once again not helped anyone.