Itoje Expresses Confidence in England's Potential Under Borthwick

Maro Itoje has reiterated his backing for Steve Borthwick, asserting that England is capable of accomplishing remarkable feats under his guidance, despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign. England's Six Nations performance 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 satisfactory performance against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina in July, he will be in a position 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, given their 11-Test winning streak prior to the tournament. Nevertheless, he believes that Borthwick and his coaching staff, including Richard Wigglesworth, Kevin Sinfield, Joe Shaw, and Lee Blackett, can turn things around. 'We have faith in our approach,' Itoje stated. 'Steve is an excellent coach, and we have a great team of coaches. We need to come together, learn from our mistakes, and move forward positively. Although we didn't achieve the desired level of success, my confidence in the team remains unwavering. I firmly believe that this England team will go on to achieve great things; we just need to learn from our experiences and move forward.'