England coach Steve Borthwick leads his side into Saturday’s match against world champions South Africa at Twickenham in desperate need of a win as he bids to end a four-game losing streak.
The Rugby Football Union insist the former England captain retains their “100 percent support” ahead of the side’s first match against South Africa since the Springboks’ dramatic 16-15 World Cup semi-final win in France last year.
That was the first of several narrow England losses under Borthwick, whose side launched their November campaign with last-gasp 24-22 and 42-37 Twickenham defeats by New Zealand and Australia respectively.
“When you lose two games, even if it’s by a point or last-minute try, the pressure does start to build,” said South Africa supremo Rassie Erasmus.
“I’ve been there and certainly know how quickly that can get to you. Now Steve is a bit under pressure. It depends on your CEO (chief executive officer) –- they can make you feel like you have got a gun against your head.”
Will Carling, a former England captain, and 2003 World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward have both questioned Borthwick’s methods after his side lost to Australia despite leading 37-35 with 83 minutes played.
Nevertheless, Borthwick — who has a modest record of 13 wins in 26 Test since succeeding mentor Eddie Jones as England boss — insisted Thursday: “When you are coaching England, there are always things on the outside. It is one of my strengths that I just focus and compartmentalise pretty well.
“My job is to coach this team, I love coaching this team, I am loyal to this group of players, and we’ve got to do things better than what we have.
“We are frustrated we haven’t got wins, we intend to get wins, and it’s a brilliant challenge for us this weekend.”
England face the world champions having repeatedly blown leads late in games since an agonising 2023 World Cup semi-final loss to the Springboks.
England face world champions South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday having repeatedly blown leads late in games since an agonising 2023 World Cup semi-final loss to the Springboks.
AFP Sport looks at some of the most dramatic reversals in that time, with England now on a run of four straight defeats:
Oct 21, 2023 v South Africa, World Cup semi-final, Saint-Denis:
LOST 16-15, England winning 15-13 after 77 minutes
Mar 16, 2024 v France, Six Nations, Lyon:
LOST 33-31, England winning 31-30 after 79 minutes
July 6, 2024, v New Zealand, Dunedin:
LOST 16-15, England winning 15-13 after 65 minutes
July 13, 2024, v New Zealand, Auckland:
LOST 24-17, England winning 17-13 after 60 minutes
November 2, 2024, v New Zealand, Twickenham:
LOST 24-22, England winning 22-17 after 75 minutes
November 9, 2024, v Australia, Twickenham:
LOST 42-37, England winning 37-35 after 83 minutes
