The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has backed Steve Borthwick, the head coach of the England national rugby union team, but has flagged multiple failings in the team's performance during the recently concluded Six Nations campaign.
England's campaign was marred by a series of disappointing results, with the team finishing at the bottom of the table with just one win from five matches. The team's worst-ever Six Nations campaign has raised questions about Borthwick's future at the helm.
In a statement, the RFU acknowledged that the team's performance had fallen short of expectations and called for improvement from Borthwick and his coaching staff. The RFU has also flagged several areas that need to be addressed, including the team's attack, defence, and set piece play.
The RFU's statement read: 'While we have backed Steve Borthwick to lead the team, it is clear that we have not seen the level of improvement we were hoping for. We expect to see a marked uptick in performance from the team, and we will be working closely with Steve and his coaching staff to identify the areas that need to be addressed.'
Borthwick, who took over as head coach in 2022, has been under pressure to deliver results following a series of poor performances. The team's poor showing in the Six Nations has raised questions about his ability to lead the team to success.
The RFU's decision to back Borthwick but flag multiple failings has sparked debate about the team's future under his leadership. While some have called for Borthwick to be given more time to turn things around, others have questioned whether he is the right man for the job.