The Rugby Football Union has publicly backed head coach Steve Borthwick amid a harsh Six Nations review that blamed discipline, accuracy and cutting edge for England’s disappointing campaign. The panel highlighted eight yellow cards, a 20‑minute red for Henry Arundell, and a poor return from 22m entries as key failings.

Borthwick’s team finished with a single win over Wales and suffered defeats in all other fixtures, marking the worst performance since the Five Nations era. The review noted that the squad’s 12‑game winning streak was not enough to offset the flaws exposed in the tournament, and that improvement must come through targeted changes rather than a single fix.

With the RFU’s full support, Borthwick is already implementing a plan to tighten discipline and sharpen execution. England’s next challenge arrives in Johannesburg against South Africa, a test that will reveal whether the lessons from the Six Nations have been internalised.