England head coach Steve Borthwick finds himself under intense scrutiny following a crushing 42-21 loss to Ireland at Twickenham, with supporters flooding the RFU with demands for his removal.
The defeat ranks among the most damaging ever suffered by the Red Roses on home soil.
Coming just seven days after their loss to Scotland in Edinburgh, the result has placed enormous strain on Borthwick and his coaching team.
Andy Farrell’s Irish side comprehensively dismantled England, laying bare the squad’s weaknesses for all to see.
Steve Borthwick has come under pressure following England’s heavy defeat
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GETTY
What began as a campaign with championship aspirations now threatens to end in humiliation.
Borthwick hit back at his detractors in a post-match interview with ITV, rejecting the swings in public perception.
“Two weeks ago after 12 wins on the bounce, people were talking about us being the best team in the world and now they’ll be saying all kinds of other things and neither is true,” he stated.
The head coach maintained his belief in the squad’s trajectory, insisting England remain on a developmental path with significant potential for growth.
“Look at the two teams today and that England team is going to be a lot better in two weeks’ time,” Borthwick added.
England suffered a humbling defeat as Ireland delivered a crushing 42-21 bonus-point triumph over the hosts | GETTY
He acknowledged that slow starts in both recent fixtures had left his side chasing the game, with Ireland dictating play and forcing costly turnovers.
Former England fly-half Andy Goode raised serious doubts about the head coach’s credentials during the match, posting on X: “England getting schooled here a load of players playing nowhere near their level. Big questions around Borthwick’s abilities as a head coach too.”
Rugby author Neil Fissler offered a similarly damning assessment on social media: “English Rugby needs a better coach than the robotic Steve Borthwick.”
Supporters vented their frustration directly at the official England account.
One fan declared that any competent coach would defeat “this bang average Ireland team” given the talent available to England.
Others described the current situation as a “farce” and demanded immediate management changes.
Ireland’s try-scorers showcased the visitors’ attacking prowess | GETTY
Captain Maro Itoje marked a bittersweet milestone on the occasion of his 100th England cap, shouldering blame alongside his teammates rather than pointing fingers at the coaching staff.
“I guess the first half we turned the ball over too much, when we did get in their half we weren’t clinical. As players we have to own it. We have to take responsibility and make sure we’re better,” Itoje said.
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🗣️ “Two weeks ago… People were talking about us being the best team in the world and now they’ll be saying all kinds of other things and neither is true.”
Steve Borthwick on England’s performance against Ireland and where they go from here.
🎙️ @topsy_ojo pic.twitter.com/KyCTO7FFGw
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 21, 2026
The skipper identified ball retention as the critical failing, emphasising that possession accuracy must improve.
“Ultimately we turned the ball over too much,” he concluded, calling for greater discipline in future fixtures.
