RFU Review Backs Borthwick After England's Worst Six Nations in 24 Years

England head coach Steve Borthwick has the Rugby Football Union's backing to improve the team's form after a review pinned the Six Nations flop on poor discipline, accuracy and cutting edge, among other issues.

England notched their only win in an opening-round rout of Wales, who ended up last in the table. Losses in the other four matches marked England's worst showing since the tournament grew from Five Nations to Six Nations in 2000.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney called the review thorough and honest. "Improvement will come from addressing several areas rather than chasing one simple answer," he said.

"This is a young England team that is still growing and developing, and we understand progress in international sport is rarely linear," Sweeney added. "Steve has engaged in this process with full openness and has clear plans in place to address these findings. We are all behind him and his coaching team going into the Nations Championship and the series of matches leading into Rugby World Cup 2027."

The review came from an unnamed panel of rugby experts who spoke with coaches and players, a routine step after every Six Nations. Sweeney had said this one needed to go deeper because of the unusual results.

The RFU cited performance confidentiality in a competitive environment as the reason for not detailing all of England's weaknesses. Still, it noted problems in multiple areas and pointed out that Borthwick's position got a boost from the 12-game winning streak England put together right before the slump.

"The review concluded that, despite coming off a 12-game winning run, England's underperformance across the Six Nations was not the result of a singular failure or issue," the RFU said. "Instead, it highlighted a number of interconnected performance areas, such as discipline, execution of opportunities and making the most of key moments, where improvement is required if England are to consistently perform at the level expected."

"We recognise why supporters felt frustrated and that they expected more. That disappointment was shared internally, and it underpinned the seriousness with which everyone engaged in this process," the statement continued.

"England head coach Steve Borthwick has engaged in the review with honesty and rigour, and he and his coaching team are already addressing issues identified."