Maro Itoje Voices Confidence in Steve Borthwick Amid England's Struggles
Maro Itoje has publicly backed Steve Borthwick, expressing confidence that England can achieve "special things" under his guidance, despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign. England finished fifth in the tournament, suffering four consecutive defeats, including a historic loss to Italy. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has confirmed that Borthwick will retain control during this summer’s tour fixtures in the inaugural Nations Championship, aiming for a revival. A successful performance against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina in July could secure Borthwick’s position through the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Itoje acknowledged that England fell short of expectations during the Six Nations, having entered with an 11-Test winning streak. However, he remains optimistic about Borthwick and his coaching team: Richard Wigglesworth Kevin Sinfield Joe Shaw Lee Blackett The England captain stated, "We believe in what we're doing. Steve is a great coach... We just need to get together as a team, learn the lessons and move positively forward." Despite the setbacks, Itoje maintains his faith in the team, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences: "I have a lot of faith, a lot of belief in this England team, and I think this England team is going to go on to do special things." The Six Nations results for England included: England 48-7 Wales Scotland 31-20 England England 21-42 Ireland Italy 23-18 England France 48-46 England As the team prepares for upcoming challenges, the focus remains on growth and improvement.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-04-15