Steve Borthwick, head coach of England, is actively seeking clarity from officials regarding new laws and key areas of emphasis as he aims to improve his team’s discipline ahead of the Nations Championship. England's recent struggles in the Six Nations, characterized by a high penalty count and numerous cards, persisted into their July matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.

Borthwick, along with other head coaches, met with referees on Sunday in preparation for England's upcoming match against Australia next weekend. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is slated to send four referees—Karl Dickson, Luke Pearce, Matthew Carley, and Christophe Ridley—to next year’s World Cup. However, England cannot be officiated by any of these referees, though Ridley has been involved in training sessions with Borthwick’s squad.

Borthwick expressed satisfaction with the recent European action, although English clubs struggled, losing more ball in attack and less in defense compared to other nations. He emphasized the need for his squad to adapt to different refereeing styles, stating, “The best players are smart and adjust.” He acknowledged that England has not effectively dealt with critical moments in matches, leading to excessive time spent defending, which often results in unfavorable decisions.

Concerns were raised regarding the disparity between the Premiership and international play, particularly in the breakdown area. Borthwick noted that English clubs lost more ball at breakdowns than any other nation and highlighted the need for improvement in both winning the ball back and retaining it.

In addition, Borthwick proposed changing the attacking bonus point rule in the Premiership to align with the Top 14, advocating for a focus on defense until the game's conclusion. He also addressed new laws regarding dangerous tackles, such as the “hip-drop” and “knee-drop” tackles, which aim to enhance player safety.

Borthwick concluded, “What we’ve got to be is the quickest to adjust,” underscoring the importance of adapting to these evolving regulations as England prepares for their upcoming challenges.