Borthwick Job Security Uncertain as RFU Reviews Disastrous Six Nations Campaign

Steve Borthwick position as England rugby coach hangs in the balance following the team catastrophic Six Nations performance, with RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney declining to provide any guarantees about the manager future until a comprehensive review concludes at the end of April.

England humiliating campaign, which saw them lose four of their five matches in their worst Six Nations showing since the tournament expanded in 2000, has prompted what Sweeney described as a deeper dive into an unusual outcome that requires immediate addressing.

Clearly, there are some issues and we are getting to them already to see what needs addressing, Sweeney explained when questioned about whether Borthwick would definitely remain in charge for England summer matches against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in July.

The RFU boss emphasized that while post-Six Nations reviews represent standard practice regardless of results, this year exceptional circumstances demand more thorough investigation into the systematic failures that undermined England campaign from start to finish.

I see the outcome of that being for us to make sure we have got the right support mechanisms in place to address them and support Steve to get that right going forward, Sweeney stated, though his carefully worded response offered little comfort to Borthwick regarding job security.

Sweeney confirmed that his assessment of Borthwick capabilities would not be influenced by the approaching Rugby World Cup, which takes place in just 18 months, despite the coach having inherited the role with minimal preparation time following Eddie Jones dismissal in December 2022.

I am not thinking about deadlines and all of that. We just really focused on getting to the bottom of what we need to solve, Sweeney declared, maintaining focus on immediate performance improvements rather than long-term tournament planning.

The review process involves an anonymous panel featuring figures from both inside and outside rugby, conducting detailed interviews with players and coaches to identify specific areas requiring improvement and systemic changes needed to restore England competitiveness.

Former coach Eddie Jones previously characterized similar reviews as a tough, tough process, revealing that RFU director of performance rugby Conor O Shea, former British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan, and board members had thoroughly assessed his performance and organizational setup during his tenure.

Sweeney stressed the importance of panel anonymity to ensure completely honest assessments without external pressure or influence that might compromise the integrity of their findings and recommendations.

There is a lot of noise, and some of it you hear, and you just know it is inaccurate from the facts, and some of it you hear, and you say, Yeah, OK, that is one of the topics that we are discussing in the review, Sweeney observed.

Speculation has intensified around potential replacement candidates, with Andy Farrell emerging as a prominent name following his success leading Ireland to two Six Nations titles and guiding the British and Irish Lions to series victory in Australia since his dismissal as England defence coach after their 2015 Rugby World Cup pool-stage elimination.

However, Sweeney confirmed that Farrell remains under contract until 2027 and the Rugby World Cup, stating that the RFU is not currently engaged in dialogue or discussions with the successful Irish coach about a potential return to Twickenham.

Premier League side Saracens has also been linked with interest in securing Farrell services, though any move would require complex negotiations regarding his existing international commitments and contractual obligations.

Despite uncertainty surrounding the coaching position, Sweeney expressed unwavering confidence in England current player pool, emphasizing that talent quality was not the primary concern requiring immediate attention.

We still think this is an extremely strong squad, and we still think that it has got the potential and capabilities to do some special things, Sweeney affirmed, suggesting that coaching methodology and support structures represent the areas requiring comprehensive evaluation.

Sweeney acknowledged that public perception of Borthwick coaching qualities has been significantly influenced by recent results, noting that characteristics previously celebrated during England 12-match winning streak are now being questioned following the dramatic performance decline.

Steve is calm, he is considered, he is analytical, and that is his persona. That is his personality, Sweeney explained, emphasizing how results-based analysis can distort objective assessment of coaching capabilities and leadership qualities.