England's outsiders deserve a chance niveste cu

IT’S just six weeks before the start of the 2025 Six Nations, and since Steve Borthwick became England head coach his main message to the media has been we want to get better. However, by the end of the autumn series, Borthwick had become a bit more critical, saying that England were not fit enough, and were not carrying what they had been doing in training into matches.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

Even so, in the autumn, England were in a position to win almost all their games – and while the narrow losses to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa were frustrating for supporters, it is even more so for the players to keep coming close, but never getting there.

Still, it’s worth remembering that even the England team that went onto win the World Cup in 2003 were Grand Slam underachievers, until they finally won one. So, England are not too far away, but they have to get the edges in fitness, and selection/environment to carry them to the next level.

I’ve said before in this column that a lack of fitness is unacceptable at international level. Fitness underpins both skill levels and mental toughness/ability, and, when you want to win the big prizes, those two qualities are crucial to doing the right thing when the heat comes on.

It is surprising and frustrating when England fall short due to the same thing time after time – and it’s then that either the coaching, or the team, has to change.

Going into the first three games in the Six Nations, Ireland and France, and possibly Scotland, are in a better position than England. So, logically, Borthwick’s team will finish either third or fourth in the table. France are flying, and although Ireland have dipped a bit, if you put their team line-up against England’s in selection, the outcome would be mainly green.