England Rugby Struggles: How a Brutal Six Nations Collapse Put Steve Borthwick Under Pressure

England rugby struggles turned a campaign that began with title ambition into the country’s worst Six Nations finish of the modern era. Before the 2026 tournament started, Steve Borthwick spoke about reaching the final weekend in Paris with the championship still within reach. England did reach Paris on 14 March, but not in the position their head coach had imagined. They arrived after three consecutive defeats and left with a fourth, even though their 48-46 loss to France produced their most ambitious attacking display of the championship.

The final table was unforgiving, and the England rugby struggles became impossible to hide. England beat Wales 48-7 in their opening match, then lost 31-20 to Scotland, 42-21 to Ireland, 23-18 to Italy and 48-46 to France. The Italy result was historic: it was the first time England had ever lost to the Azzurri. The France defeat was different. England scored seven tries, briefly threatened to deny France the title and showed a version of themselves that supporters had waited weeks to see. Thomas Ramos’ late penalty still settled the match in France’s favour.

That tension defines the England rugby struggles. The campaign exposed poor starts, damaging disciplinary lapses, inaccurate execution and tactical uncertainty. It also ended with evidence that England could play with greater freedom and ambition. The question is no longer whether pressure exists around Borthwick. It does. The more important question is whether the final performance in Paris was a genuine blueprint or a brief exception during a deeply disappointing tournament.

Editor’s update — June 2026: This article has been rebuilt as a full retrospective after England completed the 2026 Six Nations in fifth place with one victory and four defeats.

England Rugby Struggles Began After a Convincing Wales Win

The opening weekend gave little warning of what was coming. England defeated Wales 48-7 and appeared ready to build on the long winning sequence they had carried into the championship.

Instead, the England rugby struggles emerged quickly. Scotland defeated England 31-20 at Murrayfield and ended their 12-match winning run. Ireland then won 42-21 at Allianz Stadium, ending England’s nine-match home winning streak. The two defeats were damaging not only because of the scores but because the pattern looked familiar.

Scotland raced into a 17-0 lead during the opening stages. Ireland then scored 22 points in the first half-hour in London. England spent too much time reacting to a match that had already moved away from them.

The England rugby struggles were therefore about more than one weak afternoon. A team with title expectations repeatedly failed to impose itself early enough. Opposition sides sensed vulnerability and attacked it.

England’s 2026 Six Nations Results

Opponent	Result	What it revealed
Wales	England won 48-7	The opening performance created optimism and extended the winning run
Scotland	England lost 31-20	A slow start and early defensive damage changed the mood
Ireland	England lost 42-21	England’s home winning streak ended after another poor opening period
Italy	England lost 23-18	Ill-discipline contributed to a historic first defeat against Italy
France	England lost 48-46	England produced their best attacking display but still suffered a fourth loss

The official Six Nations table records France as champions and England in fifth place. The tournament rules are simple: every team plays the other five once, with bonus points and match points shaping the final standings. Readers following the wider sporting calendar can also explore The News Ink’s article on sports tournaments in 2026.

Why the Ireland Defeat Felt So Serious

The Ireland match intensified the England rugby struggles because it took place at home and followed the warning in Edinburgh. England needed a response after losing to Scotland. Instead, they produced another first-half performance that allowed the opposition to establish control.

Ireland’s 42-21 victory ended England’s nine-match home winning run. The scoreline reflected a wider problem: England reached promising positions but lacked precision. Handling errors interrupted attacks. Poor decisions prevented pressure from becoming points. When Ireland had opportunities, they looked more composed.

The England rugby struggles were deepening in front of a home audience. England were not simply overpowered by an opponent playing at an extraordinary level. They contributed to their own problems through inaccuracies and turnovers. The England rugby struggles became psychological as well as tactical. Each early setback appeared to increase the chances of another mistake.

A Radical Selection Response Before Italy

The England rugby struggles forced Borthwick to make major changes before the trip to Rome. The Guardian reported that he made nine personnel changes and three positional switches after the Ireland defeat, creating an entirely new backline. George Ford, Freddie Steward, Henry Arundell and Fraser Dingwall were among the players left out, while Fin Smith moved into the fly-half role.

The England rugby struggles required more than a reshuffled team sheet. England led Italy at half-time and held an eight-point advantage during the match, but discipline again changed the contest. Sam Underhill received a yellow card after a high tackle. Captain Maro Itoje was later sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on. Italy took advantage and won 23-18.

The official Six Nations match report described the result as Italy’s first-ever victory over England. The England rugby struggles had now moved from disappointing to historic for the wrong reasons.

Discipline Became a Central Problem

The England rugby struggles cannot be explained only through tactics. Discipline repeatedly made difficult matches harder.

Against Scotland, England lost Henry Arundell to the sin bin before a second yellow led to a 20-minute red card. Against Ireland, England again received two yellow cards. Against Italy, Underhill and Itoje were sent to the sin bin during a match England had been in a position to win. Against France, Ellis Genge’s yellow card and the resulting penalty try contributed to another swing in momentum.

Reuters reported after the Italy defeat that Borthwick blamed ill-discipline for a result that left England under increasing scrutiny. Discipline matters because Test rugby margins are small. A card changes defensive spacing, forces teammates to cover more ground and gives a strong opponent time to attack a weakened line.

The England rugby struggles became more severe because similar mistakes kept returning. A sequence across several matches suggests that England need to examine technique, emotional control and tactical clarity. The England rugby struggles became harder to correct because frustration kept creating new problems.

What Went Wrong Tactically?

There is no single explanation for the England rugby struggles, but several recurring issues appeared.

Slow Starts

England allowed Scotland and Ireland to establish major early advantages. A team that begins poorly is forced into riskier decisions later. The problem can come from preparation, defensive spacing, kicking choices, breakdown accuracy or emotional readiness.

Turnovers and Handling Errors

England reached attacking positions against Ireland but failed to convert enough of them. Pressure without accuracy is not control. Test rugby punishes dropped balls, loose passes and poor exits.

Inconsistent Discipline

Cards repeatedly changed the balance of matches. England sometimes created their own momentum and then surrendered it through avoidable penalties.

Unclear Attacking Identity

The France match showed that England can attack with freedom. Earlier performances often looked more cautious and disjointed. The challenge is to create an attacking plan that works consistently rather than appearing only when the situation becomes desperate.

Selection Disruption

Borthwick’s changes before Italy were understandable, but a major overhaul also creates new combinations. England needed urgency and stability at the same time. That balance proved difficult.

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Italy Delivered the Most Damaging Defeat

The loss in Rome was the most damaging result because England had never previously lost to Italy. England had chances to control the match. Fin Smith’s cross-field kick created a try for Tom Roebuck just before half-time. England then extended their lead after the restart. Italy stayed within range, benefited from England’s indiscipline and found the decisive score when Leonardo Marin finished a move involving Monty Ioane and Tommaso Menoncello.

The England rugby struggles were now impossible to frame as a temporary dip. The side had lost three consecutive championship matches. Borthwick faced a final trip to Paris with the risk of finishing the tournament with four defeats from five.

Italy deserved credit. The England rugby struggles should not be used to minimise the quality of Italy’s achievement. Their victory reflected progress under Gonzalo Quesada and a willingness to remain composed when the opportunity appeared.

Paris Produced a Different England

France won 48-46 after Thomas Ramos kicked a late penalty, securing the title in one of the most dramatic matches of the championship.

Reuters reported that England scored seven tries through Tom Roebuck, Cadan Murley, Ollie Chessum twice, Alex Coles, Tommy Freeman and Marcus Smith. France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey scored four tries and finished the tournament with a record nine.

England lost, but the performance looked different. They attacked with ambition, responded to setbacks and scored more than 40 points on French soil for the first time. Freeman’s late try briefly placed England in front before Ramos delivered the final kick.

The England rugby struggles created a complicated conclusion. It was still a defeat. It was also the clearest evidence that a more expansive game plan could work.

Can the Paris Performance Become a Blueprint?

After the France defeat, Borthwick argued that England had shown a clearer blueprint for the future. Reuters reported that the coach highlighted tangible progress despite the team’s fourth loss of the tournament.

The England rugby struggles had lasted too long to disappear after one excellent match. England finished fifth, won only once and recorded their worst Six Nations campaign. A team cannot wait until the final weekend to discover its attacking identity.

However, the Paris match was not meaningless. England demonstrated that they could play with tempo and ambition against the eventual champions. The backs found space. The forwards contributed tries. The side continued responding rather than retreating into a conservative pattern.

The pressure on Borthwick now depends on repetition. The England rugby struggles will continue to define the debate until results improve. If England carry the same ambition into future Tests while improving discipline and defensive control, Paris may become a turning point. If they return to hesitant rugby, the final match will look like an isolated burst of freedom.

What the England Rugby Struggles Mean for Steve Borthwick

Borthwick remains under pressure because results define international coaching. England entered the championship with title ambition and finished fifth. They lost to Scotland, Ireland, Italy and France. They became the first England side in the Six Nations era to lose four matches in one campaign.

At the same time, the England rugby struggles do not automatically mean a coaching change is the only answer. The side showed energy, creativity and resilience in Paris.

The more useful questions are practical:

• Can England start matches with greater control?
• Can they reduce cards and avoidable penalties?
• Can the attacking ambition shown against France become normal?
• Can selection become clearer without becoming predictable?
• Can England respond to momentum swings without losing accuracy?
• Can Borthwick build consistency before the next major international window?

These questions matter because the England rugby struggles were not caused by one player or one decision. They reflected a system that repeatedly failed to settle under pressure.

Leadership Must Extend Beyond the Head Coach

The England rugby struggles also require senior players to take responsibility. A head coach prepares the plan, selects the team and sets expectations. Players still make decisions in real time.

Maro Itoje’s role as captain matters because discipline, emotional control and communication often become most important when a match starts badly. Ellis Genge’s comments after the Ireland defeat captured the frustration: England had allowed early pressure to reopen the scar tissue created by the previous loss.

When a team concedes quickly after a recent defeat, the next decision carries extra weight. Players may try to solve the problem too quickly. Passes become forced. Penalties become more likely. Defensive communication becomes less precise.

England need leaders who can slow the emotional rush without slowing the game. The best teams absorb a poor five-minute period and return to their structure. The England rugby struggles showed how far England still had to go in that area.

Why Supporters Should Avoid Simple Conclusions

It is easy to describe the England rugby struggles using one extreme or the other. One argument says Borthwick has failed and must be replaced immediately. Another says the France performance proves that the project is working.

England’s fifth-place finish was unacceptable for a side with their resources and ambitions. The first defeat to Italy was a major setback. Repeated disciplinary problems require action. Slow starts against Scotland and Ireland cannot be dismissed.

Yet England also produced seven tries in Paris and came within one late penalty of denying France the title. That performance revealed ability, not illusion. The challenge is consistency.

The England rugby struggles should lead to a demanding review, not a simplistic reaction. International rugby moves quickly. Coaches need time to build systems, but time must produce evidence of progress.

What England Must Fix Next

The England rugby struggles leave Borthwick with a clear list of priorities.

1. Improve the opening 20 minutes. England cannot keep giving strong opponents early control.
2. Reduce avoidable cards. Discipline must become a measurable performance target.
3. Clarify the attacking identity. Paris should become a model, not a one-off exception.
4. Strengthen decision-making under pressure. Senior players need to recognise when control matters more than urgency.
5. Balance selection and continuity. Changes should reward form without destabilising combinations.
6. Use analysis constructively. Video review should identify repeatable solutions rather than merely catalogue errors.
7. Protect recovery and readiness. International rugby demands physical and mental preparation across a crowded schedule.

The Real Legacy of England’s 2026 Campaign

The England rugby struggles turned a promising opening into a bruising Six Nations. A 48-7 victory over Wales was followed by four defeats. Scotland exposed England’s early vulnerability. Ireland punished inaccuracies. Italy delivered a historic shock. France won a title while England finished fifth.

The Paris finale prevented the campaign from becoming entirely bleak. England found an attacking rhythm and pushed the champions to the final kick. That matters because it offers a direction for the future.

It does not offer an excuse.

Borthwick now has to prove that the lessons have been absorbed. England cannot build their future around a heroic defeat. They need sharper starts, better discipline, clearer attacking structure and greater control when momentum changes.

The England rugby struggles created pressure because expectations were higher than the results. The response must be professional, honest and sustained. England showed in Paris what they might become. The next challenge is to show it repeatedly.

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