Eddie Jones blames Steve Borthwick’s rhetoric for England’s Six Nations woes
Eddie Jones has pointed to Steve Borthwick’s pre-tournament rhetoric as the reason behind England’s troubling Six Nations performance. The former head coach believes Borthwick’s statement about aiming for a championship showdown with France was a significant misjudgment, reports BritPanorama.
England approached the tournament with high hopes, boasting a 12-match winning streak, only to face disappointing losses to Scotland and Ireland, quashing their title aspirations for the first time since 2020. The 31-20 defeat at Murrayfield, where England fell behind 17-0 early on, has been cited as particularly damaging to the team’s morale.
Jones elaborated on the psychological repercussions of Borthwick’s ambitious declarations, suggesting they could undermine the team’s focus. “I thought Steve made some very uncharacteristic comments about a title-decider against France,” Jones said on his Rugby Unity podcast. He emphasized that “looking ahead for any team is fraught with danger.” This reckless forward-thinking, he argued, distracts players and impacts performance.
Compounding the issue, Jones speculated that external pressures from the Rugby Football Union might have driven Borthwick to issue such bold proclamations. “Sometimes the pressure comes so that the union wants to hear more,” he noted, implying that financial motivations may have influenced the narrative.
Borthwick’s statements made before the tournament reflected a level of confidence inconsistent with his usually cautious approach. On January 23, he declared, “On March 14 in Paris, we want to be in a position entering that game where we can achieve what we’re all aiming to achieve.” Such messaging, typically seen in more seasoned teams, left England vulnerable.
Jones acknowledged that players are influenced by remarks made outside the pitch, stating, “They hear that and they talk to their family and friends. It shifts focus away from the task at hand.” This shift in mindset became apparent as players began discussing logistical arrangements for the anticipated clash with France instead of focusing on their current performances.
The outcome against Scotland certainly cast a long shadow. Following this match, the loss to Ireland, where England conceded five tries and fell 42-21, magnified their troubles. “That was a one-off, but now that one-off has crept into their psyche,” Jones observed, highlighting their ongoing feelings of disappointment and vulnerability.
To address the team’s issues, Jones emphasized the importance of strong leadership, both on and off the field. “How do you change it around? It takes leadership on and off the field,” he concluded, asserting that decisive action is necessary to steer England out of their current slump.
