Borthwick safe for now but optimism is little insurance

Perhaps Allianz is already dealing with a dash of buyer’s remorse. In the two months since the insurance giant took the Twickenham naming rights to the tune of more than £100m, England’s men have played three, lost three; the bedecking of their home in deep blue branding suddenly feels appropriately doleful decoration.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

Thank heavens, Allianz may say, for the ever-reliable Red Roses, who did at least ensure that the retitled arena was christened with a win. During similar struggles of the recent past, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has blended the results of its men and women in the end-of-year report to paint a prettier picture of performances – after a seventh defeat of 2024 for Steve Borthwick’s side, such alternative accounting is required again.

The ledger does not make pretty reading. England will finish the year with a failing grade and a win percentage of 42 per cent, assuming they beat Japan in their final Autumn Nations Series fixture. It is, frankly, inadequate for a nation of such resources and relative riches; the retitled arena remains generally full for now, and the neutral has most certainly been entertained by a series of Hitchcockian thrillers, but how much longer will loyal supporters be willing to show patience before they vote with their feet?

Borthwick wore a mask of defiance on Saturday evening as he picked through the bits of another starkly familiar defeat. The head coach insisted he retained the RFU’s backing and that his side was on the right track; South Africa, he correctly assessed, are a very, very good rugby team.

Barring what would be an extraordinary defeat to Japan that may make his position untenable, change is not on the cards for a variety of reasons. Financially, the union can ill afford another new premiership having paid significantly to extract both Borthwick and his coaching team from Leicester, as shown by their inability to recruit full-time replacements for the departed Aled Walters and Felix Jones. Reputationally, chief executive Bill Sweeney would prefer his legacy to be the development of a champion Red Roses side who are favourites for World Cup triumph on home soil next summer, rather than a period of stagnation, stumbles and sackings for the senior men’s side.