The Borthwick project was meant to be the catalyst for England's rugby resurgence, but after another crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa – their fifth consecutive loss in the Springboks' wake – doubts are now being loudly voiced about Steve Borthwick's ability to lead his team to victory. That 45-21 thrashing has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with many questioning whether the team is making progress or merely going through the motions.
The stats don't lie: England were outgunned in almost every department, their usually reliable pack crumbling under the weight of South Africa's relentless onslaught. The Springboks' 24-point lead at half-time told a story that was all too familiar – England had once again struggled to assert themselves on the pitch, leaving themselves exposed and vulnerable to attack.
As Fin Smith acknowledged in the aftermath, England's poor start was as much to blame for their downfall as anything else. The fly-half lamented: "For us to start as poorly as we did was frustrating. I thought we were soft defensively, missed a lot of tackles, and ultimately they scored quickly when they got into our 22." It was a grim reminder that ill-discipline remains England's Achilles' heel – their total of 10 yellow cards this season is becoming an alarming trend.
But it's not just on-field performances that are under the microscope. The coaching setup has come under scrutiny, with the departures of Felix Jones and Joe Lewis leaving many wondering if Borthwick's team has lost its strategic edge. In contrast to South Africa's well-oiled machine, England's coaching roster looks increasingly out of their depth at the highest level.
Borthwick's record against the southern hemisphere giants is a dismal one: six defeats in eight attempts since taking over from Eddie Jones. With other Six Nations rivals starting to close the gap, England's next match against Fiji is being billed as a must-win – anything less would be a further blow to the Borthwick project and a serious setback for English rugby.