Borthwick builds 'utter belief' in cup contenders

England's huge victory over the below-par All Blacks shows a team tracking to be a top chance at the 2027 World Cup

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE RUGBY CORRESPONDENT

One might have forgiven Steve Borthwick a moment to boast or brag after only a ninth English win over New Zealand in history, but the former lock is as phlegmatic a character as you will find.

Given three separate chances to send a message to those who criticised him last November, when England were in the midst of a long losing run to Tier One nations, the head coach declined three times. “I got criticised?” he asked captain Maro Itoje next to him, with a knowing, subtle smile. “I didn’t see it,” Itoje replied, picking up quickly on his head coach’s bit.

Clearly, of course, both had seen plenty of the coverage when England had come under huge scrutiny. The very fact that it was Itoje, rather than Jamie George, sat alongside Borthwick showed that he recognised change was needed, a switch of skipper made ahead of this year’s Six Nations in an attempt to instigate improvement. But just as he did not get too low amid the tough times of 2024, Borthwick was not about to rub England’s success in the faces of those who questioned their direction 12 months ago.

“I think the group’s had a huge amount of belief for a long period of time,” Borthwick demurred when it was put to him that a statement win over the All Blacks would swell his side’s confidence. “There have been big performances from this team over the last period. “The big thing that pleased me is they want to improve. The team will never get too high, never get too low - it will just continue to work to improve. It is an incredible memory they just created. And they'll celebrate it together and enjoy it together, and the more moments we have as a team together, the more we have experiences as reference points for future games.