Senior figures at the Rugby Football Union are said to be unimpressed with the siege mentality approach adopted by Steve Borthwick after England booked their place in the semi-finals of the World Cup, amid concerns supporters are being alienated.
After England’s 30-24 quarter-final win over Fiji in Marseille, Borthwick said “I don’t really care what other people think of us,” in reference to whether his side were underdogs. Before the match, Borthwick and the captain, Owen Farrell, were booed in Marseille when they appeared on the big screen before kick-off with the attack coach, Richard Wigglesworth, blaming the fact that “the minority are always the loudest”.
