Pressure mounted on England during their summer Nations Championship fixtures after the Rugby Football Union backed head coach Steve Borthwick in May. Following the team's worst Six Nations performance since 2000, where they secured only one victory, the expectation was for improvement against Fiji and Argentina.

England managed to secure narrow wins against both teams, concluding a demanding summer schedule that involved over 25,000 miles of travel. However, their discipline remained a significant concern, as they received the highest number of cards in a Six Nations campaign since 2002. Matt Dawson criticized England's discipline, calling it "verging on comical" after they received 14 yellow cards throughout the year, particularly evident during the chaotic 31-24 win over Argentina.

Despite these issues, England showcased their potential in a 73-8 victory against Fiji, marking their first match of the year without a yellow card. Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper faced sin-binnings in the match against South Africa, while Danny Care pointed out that England often played without a full squad due to ill-discipline.

Throughout July, England scored 125 points, a figure bolstered by Fiji's weakened performance. They also struggled to convert entries into the opposition 22 into points, averaging only 2.7 points per visit. The RFU called for improved attacking sharpness, which was evident against Fiji and during the first half against Argentina, where Immanuel Feyi-Waboso emerged as a standout performer.

Borthwick's management of player selection and continuity faced scrutiny as he integrated new talent into the squad. With Maro Itoje returning from a summer break, England stands two points off the top in the northern hemisphere section of the Nations Championship. They face a crucial period ahead with nine matches scheduled before the World Cup warm-ups, emphasizing the need for consistency and improvement as they prepare to host Australia, Japan, and New Zealand.