England’s humiliating 41-21 defeat to Ireland at Twickenham in February was a record low for the team, yet the Rugby Football Union’s response to the disappointing Six Nations campaign has left supporters feeling patronized. In an ideal world, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney and head coach Steve Borthwick would have faced the media together, explaining why the coaching setup remains unchanged despite four championship losses—a feat not seen since 1976. Instead, the RFU issued a bland email statement that can be summed up as: “Nothing to see here.”
There is a fundamental problem with this approach: England fans are not stupid. The RFU’s statement claimed that “England’s underperformance across the Six Nations was not the result of a singular failure or issue.” If there are multiple failings, why would the entire management team be rubber-stamped straight through to the next World Cup? A closer look at the review pointed to “discipline, execution of opportunities and making the most of key moments” as the main deficiencies. That is painfully obvious—next they might say the key to winning is scoring more points. The lack of transparency invites far more questions than answers.
Reading between the lines of this beige statement, it appears the RFU never seriously considered replacing Borthwick. Doing so would mean paying millions in severance—having already sacked Eddie Jones before the 2023 World Cup—and trying to lure a top-class replacement when most candidates are under contract elsewhere. With the countdown to the 2027 World Cup already underway, “better the devil you know” is the prevailing attitude, especially with a looming match against world champions South Africa in Johannesburg.
But what happens if England collapse at Ellis Park, stumble against Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, or lose again in Argentina? RFU sources insist Borthwick and his staff have been backed until the Australia tour, but the statement avoids explicitly saying so—perhaps leaving the smallest window for change. Ultimately, an opportunity to reset the narrative has been squandered. If Borthwick truly is the right man to lead—and no one denies he is a sharp technical coach—the RFU should say so boldly. If the current structure is world-class, they should shout it from the rooftops. Sometimes the biggest problem is not the performance, but the failure to communicate honestly with the fans.
