While they may have come agonisingly close to a shock victory over France on Saturday evening, there remains serious questions surrounding Steve Borthwick’s long-term future as England head coach.

Having come into this year’s Six Nations on the back of an impressive winning run, any momentum built during that stretch has been washed away by their performances in recent weeks.

The RFU put out a flaky statement last week in which they supported Borthwick. However, it came with the condition that performances would have to improve dramatically in order for him to continue in the role.

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Barnes wants England to appoint former Leinster man

Changing a head coach just 18 months out from a Rugby World Cup would be a big call, although some feel that it is one England need to make in order to be competitive at the tournament.

Writing in The Times, Stuart Barnes suggested that not only should England dispatch of Steve Borthwick, but they should also replace him with former Leinster head coach Michael Cheika.

Regardless of the result in Saturday night’s match, my conclusion would have been the same. England need a fresh man to take them to the World Cup.

And that man is Michael Cheika…

Borthwick is a technician; he’s not a leader. And England need a leader.

Doubters will say there is insufficient time before the World Cup, but Cheika has proved this a myth. He took a toiling Australian team from stragglers in 2014 to World Cup runners-up a year later, thumping England in the process.

Cheika is the master of short-term turnarounds; Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, must now stick or twist.

Michael Cheika spent five years in charge of Leinster, later going on to coach Australia and Argentina at test level. He also recently had a stint in English rugby at Leicester Tigers.

The 59-year old is currently back in Australia where he is coaching rugby league side Sydney Roosters, having also signed up to coach Lebanon at this year’s Rugby League World Cup. However, he could well be tempted by an offer from England should it arrive over the coming months.

Whether Cheika is the man to turn things around or not, it seems many across the Irish Sea are quickly losing patience with Steve Borthwick.

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