England’s Six Nations campaign has never felt more crucial. Steve Borthwick is under mounting pressure, and according to former England star Toby Flood, the head coach desperately needs results to justify his position. Anything less than three wins, and serious questions will be asked. The RFU may soon find itself at a crossroads – stick with Borthwick or turn to a proven leader like Andy Farrell?
Flood didn’t mince his words in his interview with Instant Casino: “Steve Borthwick is absolutely under pressure. He needs something in this tournament, something concrete.” Three wins are the bare minimum, and if England only manage victories against Italy and Wales, “it would look a bit poor again.”
The issue? England aren’t convincing. Despite a promising Rugby World Cup campaign, doubts remain about Borthwick’s ability to inspire a team lacking identity. While the RFU is coaching him to be more media-friendly, Flood suggests Borthwick’s natural reserve makes it difficult for him to connect with the public and, crucially, his players.
But the elephant in the room remains – if England falters, who takes over?
Flood believes England must consider Andy Farrell despite his long-term commitment to Ireland. “He’s English, he’s got all the credentials, and he’s clearly a great motivator.” Farrell’s track record is undeniable – success with Saracens, England, the Lions, and now Ireland, where he has transformed them into the world’s best.
It would be a seismic shift, but the timing is intriguing. Farrell is stepping back from Ireland this year to lead the British & Irish Lions.
With England crying out for a clear tactical vision, Farrell’s ability to inspire, coupled with his experience at the highest level, makes him an undeniable option. If Borthwick stumbles, expect the Farrell-to-England narrative to gain serious traction.
While England searches for a spark, Flood believes Maro Itoje could be the man to provide it. As captain, the Saracens lock could become the on-field catalyst England have been missing. “Maro’s got a huge amount of respect,” Flood said. “He’s very articulate, bright, and understands the soft skills of leadership.”
However, there’s one slight issue – his discipline. “People say he’s always on the pitch, but recently, he’s become a bit of a 70-minute player, often in the bin for ten minutes for something or other!”
England needs a talismanic leader akin to the greats of the past, such as Martin Johnson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Phil Vickery. In Itoje, they have a player with the presence to inspire a team desperate for direction. Whether Borthwick survives or not, building around Itoje could be key to England’s long-term success.
One of the major talking points surrounding England is the exile of players based in France. Jack Willis, thriving at Toulouse, is a glaring example of the RFU’s flawed eligibility rules.
“I speak to them often, and in fact, I speak to Jack Willis occasionally and drop him a message and ask how things are going,” Flood said.
“When he first went, I messaged him to say what to expect, that it would be bonkers, that it would be nothing like he had ever experienced, that the players would mess around at training, it would seem very relaxed but come match day there will be an aura about this incredible team and the club itself and that everybody suddenly switches on.
“Jack has grown dramatically as a player. It was a big ask to forgo your England career, but he’s just fallen in love with the club and is doing incredibly well.
“There is that conversation about him getting a lot of money, but I can promise you 100% he would get paid more if he returned here as a marquee player. He’s enjoying and doing it exceptionally well.
“I understand why the England eligibility rule is there, but I don’t necessarily agree with it. It’s a poor rule, it causes problems. There’s a pretty good potential England team playing in France!
“How can Jack be eligible for the Lions but not England? The rule prohibits the growth of the England rugby team.
“The problem is the rule exists to keep the quality of the Premiership high; it would suffer if some of the bigger names played abroad, and then the significance is across the game than just the Premiership.”
The rule is meant to protect the Premiership, but in reality, it’s stunting England’s growth. Willis is eligible for the Lions but not England – how does that make sense? With a host of top English players excelling abroad, a rethink is urgently needed if England are to remain competitive.
Can England win the Six Nations? Flood isn’t convinced. “I’d stick my tenner on France,” he said, pointing to the return of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, as well as the dominance of their club sides in Europe.
As for England, they simply don’t look ready to challenge. Ireland and France are the teams to beat, while Scotland are in great form. England, Italy, and Wales appear to be a step behind. “It will probably come down to one game – Ireland v France in Dublin – but the Six Nations always throws up a surprise.”
England’s campaign will be defined by how they fare against the big guns. A defeat in Dublin wouldn’t be a shock, but as Flood noted, “anything can happen in the last 20 minutes.” If England are still in the game at the hour mark, they have a chance.
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