WE BELIEVE IN STEVE

Itoje and Steward jump to defence of Borthwick after England suffer a fifth successive loss

- ADAM HATHAWAY

MARO ITOJE was first to man the barricades as England players leaped to the defence of under-fire head coach Steve Borthwick.

The lock and vice-captain was part of the defeat to world champions South Africa which made it five defeats in a row and three on the spin at Twickenham.

The RFU backed Borthwick (circle) last week and the head coach declared his bosses supported him in the wake of yet another nearmiss but patience among fans is wearing thin.

In 2006, three home defeats paved the way for Andy Robinson's exit and in 2018 Eddie Jones was spared the sack, after five straight losses, by a Jonny May try in Cape Town that beat the Springboks.

In all five of their recent losses, three to New Zealand, one to Australia and here against the Boks England have faded in the last quarter, with skipper Jamie.

George off the pitch, and failed to put teams away.