Steve Borthwick is set to lead England Rugby until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with his RFU contract extending through the tournament. <\/p>\n
Despite some rocky moments, the RFU is opting for stability over chaos\u2014at least for now.<\/p>\n
Join our Breaking News and Top Stories WhatsApp community<\/a>\u00a0for all the latest news direct to your phone.<\/p>\n From Chaos to Bronze\u2026 and Back Again<\/p>\n Two years ago, England sacked Eddie Jones after a run of poor results. In came Borthwick, who navigated a favourable World Cup draw and dragged England to an unexpected bronze medal. But what followed was anything but smooth sailing.<\/p>\n A string of narrow defeats to top-tier opposition, including three consecutive home losses to southern hemisphere heavyweights, left fans disillusioned. The mood was grim, and Borthwick was under fire. Even a captaincy change couldn\u2019t prevent a five-point loss in Dublin, punctuated by yet another second-half collapse. Things were going downhill\u2014fast.<\/p>\n A Twist of Fate: Fortunes Flip in Spring<\/p>\n Then came the turnaround. England shocked France and rode their luck against Scotland. Both games could have gone the other way, but these gritty wins injected belief into a squad that had consistently promised more than they delivered.<\/p>\n With momentum building, they hammered Italy and blew Wales away. In just one Six Nations campaign, England\u2019s back row transformed into a dominant force, and the fly-half pulled the strings with precision. Sure, there are still questions in the midfield, and their phase play needs tightening, but England emerged as the one team that truly exceeded expectations.<\/p>\n Learning from Eddie and Clive<\/p>\n The RFU isn\u2019t taking chances. They\u2019re learning from the prolonged reigns of Eddie Jones and Sir Clive Woodward that both ended ugly. Whether England thrives or stumbles in Australia, the expectation is that Borthwick will step aside after 2027.<\/p>\n For now, though, England is banking on consistency\u2014and hoping Borthwick\u2019s steady hand will guide them to new heights.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n FAVOURITES TO REPLACE STEVE BORTHWICK:<\/p>\n The Old Master \u2013 Sir Clive Woodward (100\/1)<\/p>\n England\u2019s only World Cup-winning coach remains the ultimate reference point for success in red and white. More pundit than practitioner these days, Woodward\u2019s gravitas still resonates \u2014 but in the modern RFU landscape, he\u2019s more romantic longshot than realistic contender.<\/p>\n The Mastermind \u2013 Rassie Erasmus (50\/1)<\/p>\n A two-time World Cup winner, tactical disruptor, and social-media provocateur, Erasmus is one of rugby\u2019s most brilliant \u2014 and divisive \u2014 thinkers. Tempting him from South Africa would be ambitious, but few CVs shine brighter. He\u2019s even said he\u2019d \u201clove to coach England.\u201d<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n