Head coach Steve Borthwick has been backed to show round England’s kind after a Rugby Soccer Union evaluate blamed an absence of self-discipline, accuracy and leading edge, amongst different elements, for a dismal Six Nations marketing campaign.
England’s solely victory was an opening-round rout of Wales, who would go on to complete backside of the desk.
Defeats of their different 4 video games constituted England’s worst efficiency because the match’s growth from the 5 Nations in 2000.
“This has been a radical and sincere evaluate, and it’s clear that enchancment will come from addressing a number of areas slightly than chasing one easy reply,” stated RFU chief government Invoice Sweeney.
“This can be a younger England workforce that’s nonetheless rising and creating, and we perceive progress in worldwide sport is never linear.
“Steve has engaged on this course of with full openness and has clear plans in place to handle these findings.
“We’re all behind him and his teaching workforce going into the Nations Championship and the sequence of matches main into Rugby World Cup 2027.”
A dissection of England’s efficiency, carried out by an unnamed panel of rugby figures who interview coaches and gamers, is normal follow after a Six Nations marketing campaign.
Nonetheless Sweeney beforehand admitted that this 12 months’s must delve deeper into an “uncommon final result”.
The RFU says “efficiency confidentiality in a aggressive sporting surroundings” prevents them revealing full particulars of England’s shortcomings.
Nonetheless, it did say they got here in a number of areas, whereas including that Borthwick’s case was strengthened by the year-long successful streak England compiled instantly earlier than their dip in kind.
“The evaluate concluded that, regardless of coming off a 12-game successful run, England’s underperformance throughout the Six Nations was not the results of a singular failure or challenge,” it stated.
“As a substitute, it highlighted various interconnected efficiency areas, similar to self-discipline, execution of alternatives and profiting from key moments, the place enchancment is required if England are to constantly carry out on the stage anticipated.
“We recognise why supporters felt annoyed and that they anticipated extra. That disappointment was shared internally, and it underpinned the seriousness with which everybody engaged on this course of.
“England head coach Steve Borthwick has engaged within the evaluate with honesty and rigour, and he and his teaching workforce are already addressing points recognized.”
