It is nearly 21 years and five World Cups since England were world champions, but an even more damning statistic is that in the intervening period they have won a solitary Grand Slam.
This is despite the Six Nations clean-sweep being on offer every year. It is also a tournament in which England do not have to contend with South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia – the southern hemisphere superpowers who between them have won all of the other nine World Cups.
Given England’s direction of travel two years into Steve Borthwick’s tenure as head coach, the prospects of landing a second world title in 2027 in Australia do not look rosy. The same applies to their 2025 Six Nations hopes, with an opener against Ireland in Dublin, and then a visit from a resurgent France to a one-time fortress which is now more like a through-road.
The reasons for this circumspection were reinforced by Borthwick’s uninspired selection for today’s ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ fixture against Japan, ranked 13th in the world, at the Twickenham Allianz.
Following the three losses to New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa already this month, the England coach seems to be stuck in a rut, picking the same regulars who have already added three more losing caps to their tally, rather than introducing a handful of bright, fresh players itching to show what they can do.
This indicates that Borthwick is stuck on the horns of a dilemma. One explanation is that he is so spooked by the prospect of losing to a side England beat 52-17 in Tokyo five months ago, believing that his former mentor Eddie Jones could summon enough ju-ju to turn around an eight-try rout, that he is stuck in selectorial stasis.
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