England faces a pivotal Six Nations showdown in Paris this Saturday, with their recent performances raising significant concerns. Despite dire displays in their last three matches, history suggests England is capable of an upset.
Steve Borthwick's tenure has been marked by fluctuating fortunes. After a strong World Cup showing, where they reached the semi-finals, a subsequent run of seven defeats against top-tier teams ended with a last-gasp win over France in early 2025. This led to high hopes for the current Championship, but a disappointing loss to Scotland followed by a record 42-21 defeat to Ireland and a historic loss to Italy has left England reeling.
The manner of these losses is particularly worrying. England's once enterprising play has seemingly reverted to a "kick and hope" strategy, with a high volume of kicks from hand often failing to be regained. Inability to convert scoring opportunities, frequent handling errors, and a concerning number of yellow cards have plagued the team. Defensively, they have struggled, with a significant increase in missed tackles in wide channels.
Despite these statistics, Borthwick insists he wants his players to play fast, brave rugby. However, with France vying for the title on home soil, a repeat of recent performances is unlikely to challenge the hosts. Borthwick's past ability to salvage results in crisis situations may offer a slim hope for an unpredictable twist in this Six Nations campaign.