Itoje Expresses Confidence in England's Potential Under Borthwick

Maro Itoje has reiterated his backing for Steve Borthwick, emphasizing that England is capable of achieving remarkable success under his guidance, despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign. England's Six Nations run was marred by four consecutive losses, including a historic defeat to Italy, resulting in a fifth-place finish. However, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has indicated that Borthwick will be given the opportunity to lead the team in the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures this summer. If Borthwick can deliver a strong performance against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina in July, he will be well-positioned to see out his contract until the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Itoje acknowledges that England fell short of expectations in the Six Nations, having entered the tournament on a 11-match winning streak, but he remains optimistic that Borthwick and his coaching staff can reverse the team's fortunes. 'We have faith in our approach,' Itoje stated in an interview with Sky Sports. 'Steve, along with his coaching team, including Richard Wigglesworth, Kevin Sinfield, Joe Shaw, and Lee Blackett, are all exceptional coaches. We need to regroup as a team, learn from our mistakes, and move forward in a positive direction. Although our performance in the Six Nations was not what we had hoped for, my confidence in the team remains unwavering. I firmly believe that this England team has the potential to achieve great things; it's just a matter of learning from our experiences and moving forward.'