England head coach Steve Borthwick has been told that he needs to win four Six Nations matches (Image: GETTY)
rugby bosses are targeting four wins at the as attempts to overcome a disappointing 2024. The head coach came under increasing pressure at the end of last year after his team lost three of their four Autumn Nations Series matches and will be clinging to his job if his team fail to perform in the coming weeks.
England haven’t lifted the Six Nations trophy since clinching the title ahead of France in 2020.
And this time around they have been tasked with winning the same number of matches they did back then, a feat that could be enough for them to land the silverware for the first time in half a decade.
England have been given a challenging opening run at the Six Nations as they will begin their campaign in Ireland on Saturday, February 1 before hosting France a week later.
The 2003 World Cup champions do at least have the advantage of playing three of their matches at home this year, with Scotland and Italy heading to Twickenham ahead of a showdown with Wales at the Principality Stadium on the final weekend.
According to , the RFU have demanded England smash through the glass ceiling and win four of their matches. And Borthwick opted to change his captain because of the target.
Read more…
England will be captained by Maro Itoje during the Six Nations (Image: GETTY)
Borthwick when he announced his Six Nations squad on Tuesday and opted to replace him with lock Maro Itoje.
The 45-year-old, who succeeded Eddie Jones in the England hotseat at the end of 2022, decided his team needed a different tone of leadership and a new figurehead to drive them forward.
George captained England in all 12 of their Test matches last year but was only able to lead his team to victory in five of those encounters. And Borthwick recognised that the player’s role was hindered due to the fact he is often brought off during the second half of matches.
Don’t miss… [DETAILS] [REACTION]
“If you asked any coach, they would all say their preference is that the captain is on for 80 minutes,” Borthwick explained.
“There are plenty of exceptions but generally that would be the preference. That is certainly a factor. When you look at Maro, he has started 80-odd Test matches for England and he has only ever gone off twice.
“He is physically confrontational. At the same point, he is really considered and planned. He thinks really well under pressure. When I am watching the players, the way they are looking at him, I go: ‘This is a guy that players will get behind and really follow.’”