Shadow of Eddie still hangs over Borthwick

STEVE Borthwick is in the ultimate nowin situation today against Japan at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, a game he cannot afford to lose and where a victory will mean almost nothing.

- ADAM HATHAWAY

Stick 60 points on Eddie Jones’ outfit and it will be a big, fat ‘so what’ from many fans, paying through the nose at the newly renamed national stadium, and observers who have had enough of the ‘we’ll get better’ culture. Hold on to finally get a narrow win and it will spark another inquest after a month of inquests.

Do the unthinkable and lose to the world’s 13th ranked team and all bets are off over the future of Borthwick, his coaching team and some of the RFU hierarchy who appointed them. But that won’t happen, will it?

No, but even a comfortable win with head coach Borthwick’s side running in tries until the 80th minute will not get rid of the sense of disappointment surrounding this autumn campaign.

November has seen England lose narrow games against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa when three out of four wins, including one over Japan today, was probably par for the course.

Borthwick had credit in the bank after the summer tour, which featured close defeats to the All Blacks in Dunedin and Auckland and opened with a 52-17 win over Japan in Tokyo. Since then though, defensive mastermind Felix Jones and strength and conditioning head Aled Walters, plus Tom Tombleson, have left and it has showed in the last month.

Borthwick has brought players through this year after the mass retirements and defections to France and today is the day to show some progress.

George Furbank is restored at full-back, in an all-Northampton back three, alongside Ollie Sleightholme and Tommy Freeman and the Saints have to bring their club attacking game, moulded by Sam Vesty, to the Test stage.