England captain Maro Itoje has expressed his unwavering support for head coach Steve Borthwick, asserting that the team can accomplish remarkable feats under his guidance, despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign. The team's performance in the Six Nations was below par, with four consecutive losses, including a historic defeat to Italy, after starting with an 11-match winning streak. According to RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney, Borthwick will be given the opportunity to redeem himself during the upcoming Nations Championship in July, where England will face South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.
A satisfactory outcome in these matches could secure Borthwick's position until the expiration of his contract after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Itoje acknowledges that the team's Six Nations performance was subpar but remains confident in Borthwick and his coaching staff's ability to reverse the trend. "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.
To move forward, we need to come together as a team, learn from our mistakes, and forge ahead positively. Although our Six Nations campaign was not as successful as we had hoped, my confidence in the team remains unshaken. I firmly believe that this England team has the potential to achieve great things, and it's just a matter of learning from our experiences and moving forward.