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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Gerard Meagher

England know how to win under Borthwick – now to handle great expectations

Steve Borthwick oversees England’s warm-up before the win against Argentina.
Steve Borthwick oversees England’s warm-up before the win against Argentina on Sunday. His improving team have won 11 matches on the bounce and will be tested on trips to Murrayfield and Stade de France during the Six Nations. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

A Six Nations grand slam, plus Nations Championship victories against South Africa and Fiji and England would head to Argentina next July having equalled their record run of 18 wins, in pursuit of a ground-breaking No 19. Sounds simple put like that, but there’s more chance of Steve Borthwick busting his best moves in England’s next viral TikTok video than him entertaining any thought of record runs.

That is not to criticise, because even though Borthwick is allergic to looking too far ahead, doing so would be to get drastically carried away. The point here is that the more England keep winning, and they will enter the Six Nations next year as the team to beat after 11 on the trot, the more expectation increases.

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