It was a statement more striking for what remained unsaid rather than that which was spoken. Steve Borthwick is far from the first head coach to receive the oft-dreaded vote of confidence from those above him – the very fact that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) felt a need to release a message of support at all reflected the fact that the severity of the situation had stiffened, and the tenor of the conversation had changed. A first-ever defeat to Italy will do that.
Such missives are carefully considered and even more carefully worded. The RFU has made the mistake of misjudging their tone before, memorably stating that England had made “solid progress” at the end of a 2022 Six Nations campaign under Eddie Jones that contained just two wins. So when Bill Sweeney, the chief executive, gave backing to Borthwick last Sunday not through to next year’s World Cup but to the first fixtures of the inaugural Nations Championship in July, the implication seemed clear – the England boss has four games in which to safeguard his future.
