The Rugby Football Union remains in full support of England head coach Steve Borthwick in spite of a run of four successive defeats.
Telegraph Sport understands there is next to no prospect of Borthwick losing his role, even if they lose to world champions South Africa next week at Allianz Stadium. Eddie Jones was sacked in 2022 after a defeat by the Springboks meant England had only won five games that calendar year.
Borthwick’s England have so far won just four games in 2024 – against Italy, Wales, Ireland and Japan – with the Springboks and Jones’s Japan due to visit Twickenham in the next two weeks.
Yet despite the similarities between that sequence of results, the senior hierarchy within the RFU is resolutely supporting Borthwick after Max Jorgensen’s injury-time try condemned England to yet another heartbreaking defeat against Australia. Of England’s six defeats this year – including three to New Zealand – only one has been by more than a score, the 30-21 reverse against Scotland at Murrayfield.
There is a recognition that England have significantly overhauled their playing style in both attack and defence since the 2023 World Cup, but have also had to cope with the disruption of losing defence coach Felix Jones and Aled Walters, the head of strength and conditioning, in the summer.
England will now start as heavy underdogs against South Africa on Saturday, and while second row Maro Itoje admits that their “backs are against the wall” he is convinced that they can flip the switch against the double world champions. “That wasn’t acceptable and we will have an honest look at that,” Itoje said. “I want – this team want – to do the shirt proud, to do the fans proud. We have the world champions coming to Twickenham. We have an amazing opportunity to do something.
“Whilst we’re bitterly disappointed about the results that have happened, there’s no doubt in my mind that if we do our thing, are more consistent and play smarter rugby, it’s a game we can win.
“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.
“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.”
