Borthwick faces fresh scrutiny after England’s 45-21 defeat in Johannesburg
England head coach Steve Borthwick is under renewed pressure after his side slumped to a fifth consecutive Test defeat — a 45-21 thrashing by South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday — and lost full-back George Furbank to emergency appendicitis surgery, ruling him out of the remainder of the summer internationals.
Furbank, 29, was withdrawn from the starting XV on Friday evening and taken to hospital with abdominal pain. He underwent surgery on Saturday morning and remains in recovery. Borthwick confirmed the Northampton Saint — who had earned a recall after helping Saints win the Premiership title this summer — will also miss the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures against Fiji on July 11 and Argentina on July 18.
“He is gutted and he will miss the next couple of weeks,” Borthwick said. “He will be delayed in South Africa to fly back at a later date.”
Furbank’s last England appearance had been in November 2024, with his return derailed by a succession of calf, arm and knee injuries. Marcus Smith replaced him at full-back in Johannesburg.
Discipline unravels in closing stages
Saturday’s defeat was all but sealed in the final seven minutes, when England were reduced to 13 men after yellow cards for Tommy Freeman (dangerous tackle, 71st minute) and Guy Pepper (late challenge, 72nd minute). South Africa capitalised ruthlessly, with tries from Malcolm Marx and BJ Dixon compounding the visitors’ misery.
Borthwick, however, refused to blame the sin-binned pair.
“The Tommy Freeman one — you see a slight timing error, there wasn’t anything malicious or reckless,” the England boss said. “The Guy Pepper one, South Africa put players under pressure because that is the way they play.”
The defeat followed a brutal Six Nations campaign in which England lost four matches in a row for the first time in the tournament’s history — a slump that had already triggered an internal RFU review and a public vote of confidence in Borthwick through to next year’s World Cup in Australia.
Why this run matters: a coach and a regime at a crossroads
When Borthwick took over in 2022, his appointment was seen as a stabilising move after the Eddie Jones era. A run of 11 consecutive wins in 2025 had suggested the project was on track. But the Six Nations collapse raised serious questions about tactical clarity, discipline and execution — all of which resurfaced at Ellis Park.
Only six of the XV that started Saturday’s match had also started against South Africa in November 2024, a sign of ongoing selection flux despite Borthwick’s stated preference for continuity. After defeats to Scotland and Ireland in the Six Nations he had dramatically overhauled his entire backline for the games against Italy and France.
Lock Alex Coles told BBC Sport before the South Africa match: “We’ve got a clear identity. It’s more about doing it better than we have been doing.” But the performance in Johannesburg — characterised by poor accuracy, a lack of control and five yellow cards in two matches — suggested the identity remains elusive.
Discipline has become a recurring theme. In Saturday’s match alone, England conceded a string of penalties and field position cheaply, allowing the Springboks to dominate territory and the scoreboard. The final scoreline flattered England only slightly: they leaked 45 points despite a late flurry of their own.
Perspective: what this means for England’s World Cup build-up
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia now just over a year away, England’s trajectory is a concern. Borthwick has been backed by the RFU’s review, but results are the only currency that matters in Test rugby. The summer series was supposed to be a reset after a chastening Six Nations — instead, it has begun with the heaviest defeat of his tenure.
There are, however, some tentative positives. England’s attacking ambition — shown in a 48-46 defeat to France in the Six Nations finale — has not been abandoned. Wing Cadan Murley spoke before the South Africa match of a desire to “score tries” and embrace an “attacking mindset”. That ethos, if refined and paired with restored discipline, could keep Borthwick’s project alive.
The next two fixtures — against Fiji and Argentina — are now pivotal. Lose both and the calls for change will grow louder; win them and Johannesburg may yet become a footnote rather than a defining moment.
For context, elsewhere in the world of sport pressure can produce swift turnarounds or dramatic exits. In football, Jürgen Klopp has confirmed talks with Germany and declared himself ready to return, showing how quickly coaching narratives can shift. A similar reset for England will require not just tactical adjustments but a cultural shift in on-field discipline.
As England legend and pundit Brian Moore put it bluntly after the match: “We weren’t brave enough.” Borthwick must prove that his side can be both brave and disciplined before the World Cup clock runs down.
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