​Detractors of the Nations Championship format may not be hard to find, but the fresh competition could still win a fan in Steve Borthwick. Had the July international window not been reshaped, England might have faced a three-Test tour in South Africa this summer; instead, while trying to halt a five-match losing streak, they at least enjoy the comforts of home rather than another looming clash with the Springboks to worry about. That said, a meeting with Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium isn’t exactly the fixture that would have the weekend’s visitors rubbing their hands with glee—especially not in the shape England currently inhabit. It is two decades since England lost six consecutive full Tests, a skid that ultimately helped precipitate Andy Robinson’s resignation at the end of 2006.
Steve Borthwick’s England have now endured five straight Test defeats. Is he feeling the pressure? He has confronted such scrutiny before, of course, having halted a similar slide by beating Japan in the autumn of 2024. Yet the solid backing from the Rugby Football Union after their opaque Six Nations review would begin to crumble if another defeat were to crystallise the concerns already swirling around him. Borthwick spoke with conviction after naming his squad on Thursday, emphasising his love for English rugby and his acceptance of the scrutiny that accompanies him in such a lofty role. That sense of vocation was shaped by another of England’s memorable forays north of the border, and a 1997 meeting with the All Blacks at Old Trafford that is best recalled for a moment during the Haka when Norm Hewitt squared off with Richard Cockerill. “Seeing that for the first time, I was absolutely hooked on English rugby,” Borthwick explained. “All I wanted to do was play for England. I hope that this weekend we can return to the winning ways we want to achieve and that the players can deliver a performance that inspires—just as I was inspired in 1997.”
The clash between Hewitt and Cockerill in 1997 continues to echo as part of the backdrop to Borthwick’s era, reminding fans of England’s enduring capacity for drama and drama’s potential to galvanise. Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the performance against South Africa was how flat it felt; how little of the tourists’ game England managed to emulate on the pitch. England did show genuine resilience to halt a poor start—trailing 0-17 early on—but they were unable to sustain their challenge, fading in the final quarter while being repeatedly disrupted at the breakdown. Those who have interacted with Borthwick’s squad would describe them as likeable, appealing in their unity, yet there is little sense of enduring goodwill after another bruising chapter four years into the head coach’s tenure. The personality of the man at the helm has perhaps not helped; it is striking that someone as understated as Borthwick can provoke such strong reactions of discontent among portions of the support, a reflection of the unease currently surrounding England.
This summer offers a rare opportunity to reconnect on home soil, to rebuild the sense of connection between team and nation that has frayed in recent times. A successful run at home could help restore faith among supporters and reinvigorate a squad that has faced stern tests, while also allowing Borthwick to demonstrate that he can translate the lessons of the autumns and the Six Nations into tangible results. In the wider frame, it is a test of leadership, a chance to show that England can harness a period of pressure to produce a performance that rekindles pride and belief in their ability to compete with the world’s best. As the team steps into a summer landscape that promises both familiarity and scrutiny, the country awaits an angular response to the doubts that have accumulated around their status and prospects. If England can channel the energy from their best moments into consistent execution, they may begin to repair the fracture lines that have opened in the past two seasons and lay the groundwork for a more resolute era under Borthwick.