England’s Six Nations campaign takes a hit against Italy
England suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Italy, losing 23-18 at the Stadio Olimpico, a result that is likely to intensify calls for head coach Steve Borthwick to be sacked, reports BritPanorama.
The visitors had seemed in control, holding an 18-10 advantage as they entered the final quarter. However, a disastrous collapse ensued, allowing the Azzurri to score 13 unanswered points. The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when Leonardo Marin crossed the line to secure a historic victory.
This defeat marked the first time Italy had beaten England in 33 encounters between the two nations. The loss represents Borthwick’s third consecutive defeat in this year’s Six Nations, leaving England in fifth place, with only winless Wales beneath them in the standings.
Former England wing Ugo Monye, now a pundit for ITV, suggested that questions about Borthwick’s position should arise immediately in the wake of this debacle in Rome. Yet the beleaguered head coach remained resolute, affirming his commitment to leading the national side. “Absolutely,” Borthwick responded when questioned if he should continue in the role.
He highlighted ongoing communications with senior figures at Twickenham, stating, “The RFU, myself, Conor O’Shea and Bill Sweeney, we speak regularly and discuss the vision of the team going forward.” Borthwick also drew comparisons to past World Cup cycles, recalling a similar situation in 2018 when England rebounded strongly the following year.
Discipline has been a recurring issue for England throughout the tournament, exacerbating their challenges. “We had seven yellow cards and a red card in four games,” Borthwick noted, emphasizing the difficulties this presents against quality opposition. The match’s critical period occurred between the 60th and 65th minutes when flanker Sam Underhill and captain Maro Itoje received yellow cards, contributing to Italy’s match-winning momentum.
Borthwick acknowledged the impact of discipline on their performance, stating, “What’s disappointing is the discipline factor that the cards have had so far for us in this tournament. It’s not good enough. We’ve all been very clear and very transparent around it.” England also squandered ten opportunities in the Italian 22, failing to convert territorial dominance into points.
Despite the grim outcome, Borthwick expressed appreciation for England’s travelling supporters and recognized their frustration, saying, “Firstly, I’d thank the supporters for what they give to the team. The second is I’d recognise that they’re hurting like we’re hurting. We feel it. We really, really do.”
He defended his position by asserting that significant progress had been achieved over the past year, pointing to improved scoring and attacking intent. “The team’s growth in the last 12 months has been very, very strong, and you can see the vision of where the team is going to be and the players coming through,” Borthwick concluded.
Looking ahead, England now face title-chasing France in Paris next Saturday, where defeat would solidify their worst Six Nations campaign on record. The stakes have never been higher, as the pressure mounts on Borthwick and his squad to deliver in a critical moment.
