Before a ball had even been kicked in this year’s Six Nations, England boss Steve Borthwick had already set his sights on Paris.
The date was circled. March 14. France away. A potential title decider.
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“We want to be in a position in that game to get what we all want to achieve,” Borthwick said. “We want English fans flooding across the channel to get there and watch that game.”
The dream? A repeat of the 2016 Grand Slam heroics in Paris. A first championship crown since 2020.
The reality? Brutal. Two crushing defeats in back-to-back rounds have blown England’s title hopes to smithereens. Instead of heading to France with silverware on the line, they now sit fourth in the table — scrambling just to salvage respectability.
A solitary win over Wales is all they have to show for their campaign.
From Momentum to Meltdown
England’s 12-game winning streak evaporated in a 31-20 Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield. That was the warning sign.
What followed was worse.
Saturday’s 42-21 hammering by Ireland at Allianz Stadium didn’t just end England’s nine-match home winning run — it exposed alarming cracks in both tactics and mentality.
Five tries conceded. Passive defence. A blunt attack.
It was, by any measure, one of the darkest performances of Borthwick’s tenure.
And it leaves serious questions hanging in the air.
What Happens Next?
England must now travel to Italy and France knowing that anything less than two wins could see them slip further down the table.
Mid-table mediocrity is the best-case scenario.
RUCK understands a full internal review is scheduled following the 2026 Six Nations campaign. Expectations were sky-high coming into Borthwick’s FOURTH championship in charge — but patience is not limitless.
For now, he remains in post.
However, defeats in Rome and Paris would pile the pressure on significantly — and could make his position increasingly difficult to defend.
The title dream is over. Now it’s about survival.
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England’s Two Biggest Names Implode in Nightmare Ireland Defeat
Itoje and Ford were two of England’s six biggest underperformers on a chastening day at HQ.
Freddie Steward
The Leicester full-back endured an afternoon to forget. England rely on him to dominate the skies — he didn’t. Wobbly under the high ball, fortunate not to be punished for one costly spill that almost gifted Ireland a try, and then yellow-carded for a desperate infringement that handed the visitors momentum. Hooked before half-time in a ruthless call that spoke volumes.
Tom Curry
Back in the starting XV but unable to impose himself. Ireland controlled the breakdown, an area Curry usually relishes, and he struggled to swing momentum. There were flashes in wider channels and his work-rate never dipped, but England needed edge and authority — they didn’t get it. Substituted after 50 minutes with little lasting imprint on the contest.
Henry Arundell
A winger blessed with pace but short on impact. For the second week running, he looked uncertain under the high ball and hesitant when chances opened up. England needed incision out wide; instead they got indecision. A couple of promising carries came to nothing, and defensively he was exposed too often.
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