Dumsha Wijesinghe JadeTimes Staff
W.G.S.D.Wijesinghe is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Sports News
Borthwick’s Win Record Under Scrutiny Amid England's Rugby Rebuild
Steve Borthwick's record as England head coach took another hit after a 42-37 defeat by Australia, leaving him with a 50% win rate from 26 matches. This record falls short of his predecessors, with Eddie Jones achieving a 73% win rate and Stuart Lancaster at 61%. However, Borthwick’s tenure has come at a transitional time, as England moves away from a longstanding core of experienced players like Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes, and Manu Tuilagi, making the need for rebuilding evident. England’s recent five losses in six games have all come against top tier opponents, often decided by a single score, explaining why the Rugby Football Union (RFU) continues to back Borthwick’s leadership in the long term.
Defensive Gaps and Backroom Changes Fuel Challenges
England's defence has shown inconsistency, appearing robust against New Zealand but weakened against Australia, which Borthwick attributes to errors in handling and contact skills. Complicating matters is the turnover in England’s defensive coaching staff, with three coaches appointed in the past year. The latest, Joe el Abd, joined in September, a change Borthwick would likely have preferred to avoid during a time of structural rebuilding. England’s style of play has also fluctuated, initially relying on a conservative, kick heavy approach at the World Cup before transitioning to a more open strategy in the Six Nations and this autumn, further hampered by scrum half Alex Mitchell’s absence in recent matches.
The Road Ahead Against South Africa and Fan Expectations
With South Africa’s double world champions visiting next week, England faces a challenging test that will demand substantial improvement. Borthwick's strategic choices, including his tentative support of playmaker Marcus Smith, have seen mixed fan reactions, highlighted by boos in the Australia match when Smith was shifted to full back. Though England has come agonizingly close to victory in recent matches, Borthwick knows that elite teams excel in high-pressure moments, and fans are growing weary of seeing England fall just short. After a visibly frustrated post match response from Borthwick, the head coach will be acutely aware of the need for a marked uplift against South Africa to restore faith at Twickenham and keep England’s ambitions on track.
