England's national rugby union team has demonstrated clear progress under head coach Steve Borthwick, leading to a shift in the narrative surrounding his position. After a challenging start to his tenure, recent performances in the 2024 and 2025 Six Nations Championships, including strong finishes and a notable win over Ireland in 2024, have bolstered his standing.
Borthwick, who took over from Eddie Jones in December 2022, initially faced scrutiny after a fifth-place finish in the 2023 Six Nations. However, the team's development was evident in their run to the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, where they narrowly lost to the eventual champions, South Africa.
The 2024 Six Nations campaign, where England finished third but secured impressive victories, and a promising start to the 2025 tournament have been cited by rugby pundits as evidence of a solidified game plan and improved squad cohesion. This tangible on-field progress has significantly reduced public and media speculation about his job security.
While expectations remain high for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour and the 2027 World Cup, the current consensus among analysts is that the Rugby Football Union (RFU) supports Borthwick's long-term project. The focus has largely shifted from dismissal talks to evaluating the team's capacity to challenge the world's top sides consistently.
