Eddie Jones Points to Borthwick’s Early Confidence as Root of England’s Six Nations Struggles

England’s dramatic downturn in the 2026 Six Nations can be traced back to head coach Steve Borthwick’s pre-tournament focus on a potential title-deciding match against France, according to former England coach Eddie Jones.

Early Title Talk Backfired, Says Jones

Successive defeats to Scotland and Ireland have severely hampered England’s title aspirations, turning a hopeful campaign into a struggle to avoid a historic low in the Six Nations standings. Jones suggests Borthwick’s early confidence may have been detrimental.

“I’ll move back to the start of the Six Nations. I thought Steve made some very uncharacteristic comments about a title-decider against France, looking ahead,”

Eddie Jones, via Rugby Unity podcast

Borthwick initially outlined his ambition for the team, stating, “On March 14 in Paris, we want to be in a position entering that game where we can achieve what we’re all aiming to achieve,” on January 23rd. He further expressed a desire “We want England fans flooding across the Channel to Paris to watch the team in a massive encounter in the final round with the opportunity to achieve what we want.”

Psychological Impact on Players

Jones believes focusing on a game so far in advance created an unintended psychological shift within the squad. He posited that the players, and their families, began planning for a match that was far from guaranteed.

“The players read everything, the wives read everything, the girlfriends read everything, the boyfriends read everything, they all read it. They hear that and they talk to them and they say, ‘We’ve got to get our tickets for France. Where are we staying? Where are we going to go the night before for dinner?’ All of that happens and the slight psychological change you get in the team because of that, they start to glance ahead.”

Eddie Jones, via Rugby Unity podcast

Scotland Loss Created Lingering Doubt

The initial setback against Scotland, where England conceded an early 17-0 lead, appears to have had a lasting impact. Jones suggests this loss created a mental hurdle that contributed to the subsequent heavy defeat by Ireland.

“They got caught on the hop against Scotland. The Scotland game against Wales shows that they were just caught on the hop. That was a one-off, but now that one-off has crept into their psyche. They’re disappointed about where they are and they’re all feeling a bit threatened now.”

Eddie Jones, via Rugby Unity podcast

Italy Match Now Crucial

With their title hopes diminished, England now face a critical match against Italy on March 7th. The game has taken on increased importance following the disappointing results against Scotland and Ireland, representing a turning point for the team.

Looking Ahead

The situation highlights the importance of maintaining focus and avoiding premature celebration in a demanding tournament like the Six Nations. Leadership, both on and off the field, will be crucial for England to regain their form and salvage something from the remainder of the competition.

“How do you change it around? It takes leadership on and off the field.”

Eddie Jones, via Rugby Unity podcast