Eddie Jones, the current Japan head coach and former England manager, has thrown his support behind Steve Borthwick amid calls for his ousting after a dismal Six Nations campaign. On the Rugby Unity podcast, Jones signaled the precarious position of Borthwick, saying, “When the drums start to beat, the writing is often on the wall for the coach.” He emphasized the overwhelming pressure, adding, “The problem is, it’s just so loud now. Unless he can find someone within the RFU who’s got enough sense to support him [he’s gone].”
England’s only win in the 2026 Six Nations was against Wales, followed by four consecutive losses. The sequence of defeats has sparked intense scrutiny and debate about Borthwick's capabilities and future. Despite the criticism, Jones advocates for continuity at the helm of English rugby, firmly stating, “I think he’s the right man to coach England, and I think they should support him through this.”
“Yeah, maybe he’s got a few things wrong, and they’ll need to help him rectify those errors, but they’d be foolhardy to change coach now.”
Speculation has been rife about Michael Cheika taking over, with voices like former England fly-half Andy Goode suggesting it's time for RFU CEO Bill Sweeney to open the chequebook for Cheika. However, Jones warns against a hasty change, especially with the upcoming World Cup, arguing that Borthwick has grown into his role since taking England to the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup with minimal preparation time.
“I was listening to someone this morning on the way in here, talking about the fact that most coaches, when you go to the next level, it takes you four or five years to really learn your trade.”
Jones believes that dismissing Borthwick at this juncture could be detrimental, suggesting, “Steve’s now four years into it, I think they’d be foolhardy to change the coach now, leading to the World Cup, they’re going to get the best result with Steve as the head coach.” He added that perhaps a reassessment could be due post-World Cup, but for now, Borthwick should lead England to the global tournament.
The endorsement by Jones, a seasoned coach with a deep understanding of the pressures and dynamics of international rugby, underscores the complex decisions facing the RFU. His comments suggest a belief in stability and long-term planning over reactionary changes, hoping that “common sense prevails and Steve Borthwick is given the opportunity to finish the job.”
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Eddie Jones, the current Japan head coach and former England manager, has thrown his support behind Steve Borthwick amid calls for his ousting after a dismal Six Nations campaign. On the Rugby Unity podcast, Jones signaled the precarious position of Borthwick, saying, “When the drums start to beat, the writing is often on the wall for the coach.” He emphasized the overwhelming pressure, adding, “The problem is, it’s just so loud now. Unless he can find someone within the RFU who’s got enough sense to support him [he’s gone].”
England’s only win in the 2026 Six Nations was against Wales, followed by four consecutive losses. The sequence of defeats has sparked intense scrutiny and debate about Borthwick's capabilities and future. Despite the criticism, Jones advocates for continuity at the helm of English rugby, firmly stating, “I think he’s the right man to coach England, and I think they should support him through this.”
“Yeah, maybe he’s got a few things wrong, and they’ll need to help him rectify those errors, but they’d be foolhardy to change coach now.”
Speculation has been rife about Michael Cheika taking over, with voices like former England fly-half Andy Goode suggesting it's time for RFU CEO Bill Sweeney to open the chequebook for Cheika. However, Jones warns against a hasty change, especially with the upcoming World Cup, arguing that Borthwick has grown into his role since taking England to the semi-final of the 2023 World Cup with minimal preparation time.
“I was listening to someone this morning on the way in here, talking about the fact that most coaches, when you go to the next level, it takes you four or five years to really learn your trade.”
Jones believes that dismissing Borthwick at this juncture could be detrimental, suggesting, “Steve’s now four years into it, I think they’d be foolhardy to change the coach now, leading to the World Cup, they’re going to get the best result with Steve as the head coach.” He added that perhaps a reassessment could be due post-World Cup, but for now, Borthwick should lead England to the global tournament.
The endorsement by Jones, a seasoned coach with a deep understanding of the pressures and dynamics of international rugby, underscores the complex decisions facing the RFU. His comments suggest a belief in stability and long-term planning over reactionary changes, hoping that “common sense prevails and Steve Borthwick is given the opportunity to finish the job.”