Maro Itoje has reiterated his support for England head coach Steve Borthwick, emphasizing the team's potential to accomplish remarkable feats 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 hinted that Borthwick will be given the opportunity to redeem himself during the summer's Nations Championship. If Borthwick can secure a satisfactory outcome 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, given their 11-Test winning streak prior to the tournament. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about Borthwick and his coaching staff's ability to turn things around.
'We have faith in our approach,' Itoje stated in an interview with Sky Sports. 'Steve, along with his coaching team, which includes Richard Wigglesworth, Kevin Sinfield, Joe Shaw, and Lee Blackett, are all exceptional coaches.
We simply need to regroup as a team, learn from our mistakes, and move forward positively.' Itoje's confidence in the team remains unwavering, and he believes that England will go on to achieve great things. 'It's all about learning from our experiences and moving forward,' he added.