Six things Steve Borthwick must do to save his England job ...Middle East

England’s history-making first ever loss to Italy, 23-18 in Rome, on top of comprehensive beatings by Scotland and Ireland has left Steve Borthwick’s team facing their worst ever results in a Six Nations if they lose to the title favourites France in the final round in Paris next Saturday.

England have never failed to win at least two games in a Six Nations since Italy joined in 2000, and not lost four in a Championship since 1976.

On Sunday, as I had predicted, the Rugby Football Union said Borthwick can bat on into the summer’s new Nations Championship, when England will play South Africa and Argentina away and Fiji at home, but there was no mention of the 2027 World Cup.

Remember, the RFU sacked Andy Robinson in 2006 and Eddie Jones in 2022, each less than a year before a World Cup. Smartest guys in the room, eh? The cobwebs gathering in the Twickenham trophy cabinet suggest otherwise.

Anyway, the RFU’s message to Borthwick was couched in corporate-speak – “England fans rightly expect a team that learns and grows through adversity,” chief executive Bill Sweeney said – but I would shorten it to “adapt or be sacked”.

So, what needs to change and will it happen?

Kicking rethink

Everyone including Borthwick has seen the data that if you retrieve a kick downfield, your chances of scoring are greater than if you move the ball the same distance through the hands.

And you cannot dismiss it as a pointless tactic, per se, because every now and again it works and you win.

But there is inherent risk and, when it goes badly, it must drain players’ confidence and verve.

And it is not just box-kicks and spirals and long punts – it is the teeth-grinding sight of the new and exciting centre Seb Atkinson, who has just got into the England side for his carrying and offloading, making a useless chip in Rome when there were still passing options available.

That is a mindset drilled by instruction – and it is not unique to Borthwick in the English game, by the way.

At the start of the match, and with five minutes to go, the kick was England’s first resort. Will Borthwick relent on this? It seems unlikely.

Show us the figures

Borthwick has said England will not win the next World Cup by pounding the opposition with heavy forwards up front, but he picked a lightweight back row against the Irish and it failed.

If he has data to back his beliefs, let us see it.

He should be assured that while he is taking severe flak from some of the fans who pay his wages, they will come around if they are convinced of the plan.

Improve the discipline

Maro Itoje helped execute three turnovers in Rome, then he conceded a breakdown penalty followed by a yellow card – England’s eighth in this Six Nations – for slapping the ball away from Italian scrum-half Alessandro Fusco.

When asked about it, Itoje said: “I was trying to scoop the ball back in my direction, and it didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. It was probably better left.”

Ben Earl provides England with huge momentum – the back-rower made 20 of their 118 carries in Rome – but he also conceded an easy penalty on 19 minutes, encroaching at a line-out.

These things baffle professionals, including TV pundit Austin Healey, who slammed Itoje, and fans alike.

Starting XV against France

Itoje and Earl told us in Rome the senior players would “own” the bad results, and they gave gushing backing to Borthwick.

Which is nice, although it is also public relations 101 – if the coach eventually goes, the players do not look bad.

Borthwick should pick all the players with the most caps to take on France and demand a big showing from the big dogs.

But what to do about the backline? Atkinson needs another go at inside centre, even though it is only his fourth cap. That is a dilemma.

Future selection – players and coaches

Beyond Borthwick’s control have been injuries to props Fin Baxter and Will Stuart, second row George Martin, key wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and several centres, to add to the players he cannot pick from France.

If Borthwick goes, is there a coach out there who can get an England backline dancing to Marcus Smith’s tune?

Even if that may never happen, pundits are bandying the usual names of Michael Cheika or Warren Gatland, for experience, or Scott Robertson for innovation, or Phil Dowson for English familiarity.

Pat Lam? Plays lovely rugby at Bristol Bears, but not a serial winner. Lee Blackett on attack? Already on board.

Shaun Edwards on defence? One day, maybe, although his France team just got hammered for 50 points by the Scots.

Think outside the box

Let’s merge Donald Trump’s Board of Peace with the Labour government’s promise of national renewal, and have an England Rugby Board of Renewal.

Recruit Brian Ashton, still a sharp attacking mind at the age of 79, and Martin Johnson to mine for grit.

And how about Owen Farrell? The former captain’s red card before the last World Cup created aggro for Borthwick, but the way Farrell lifts standards, attested to by fellow players of all sides, could be invaluable to an England team heavily under the pump.

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