Former England international James Haskell has thrown his support behind Steve Borthwick, declaring him "the right man for the job" as the national team prepares for the climax of the inaugural Nations Championship in November.
According to Sky Sports, Haskell's endorsement comes at a time when Borthwick faces mounting scrutiny following England's disastrous Six Nations campaign earlier this year, which saw the team suffer four defeats from five matches. Despite the criticism, the RFU has publicly committed to backing Borthwick through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Haskell, who earned 77 Test caps between 2007 and 2019, believes continuity is essential at this stage of the team's development.
"The RFU have got behind Steve Borthwick, and rightly so,"he told Sky Sports.
"I think he's the right man for the job."
The former back-rower pointed to Borthwick's track record of building momentum, highlighting the 12-game unbeaten streak that preceded the 2026 Six Nations. Haskell argued that the gap between England's best and worst performances is not as wide as critics suggest.
"It's never as bad as you think it is and it's never as good as you think it is,"he explained.
"I think there's a lot of talent, and without being a super nerd - which rugby pundits often can be - if you look at the stats, we create lots of opportunities."
Haskell drew a striking statistical comparison between the two periods.
"When we were on our unbeaten run of 12 games, 83 per cent of the time we got into the 22-metre line, we took away points. When we were losing games, we were making the same opportunities but coming away with points less than 33 per cent of the time."
Pollock's rising star status and X-factor appeal
Haskell also lavished praise on Henry Pollock, the Northampton Saints back-rower who has become one of rugby union's most talked-about emerging talents. Pollock made headlines in March when he became the first rugby union player to sign with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency, a move that signalled his ambitions beyond the traditional confines of the sport.
According to Rugby World, Pollock has already made an impact on the international stage, scoring a hat-trick in England's 73–8 victory over Fiji during the summer Nations Championship campaign. That win was part of a mixed summer for England, which also included a 31–24 victory over Argentina but a loss to South Africa.
Haskell believes Pollock possesses qualities that could transform English rugby's public image.
"He's definitely got that X-factor, in terms of the way he plays,"said Haskell.
"He's probably the most talked about rugby player at the moment. He creates opinion and challenges opinion - and that's what makes the world go round now."
"But when he gets opportunities on the field, he delivers… I'm very excited that he will hopefully get more of a chance to play for England."
The former international acknowledged that Pollock's personality and style may challenge traditional rugby sensibilities.
"It will challenge some of the stuffier, more stoic sides of the upper echelons, and of the fanbase, who like their sports stars manageable and with a bit of ego, but not too much."
Haskell concluded with an optimistic vision for English rugby's future.
"If someone could bring that cohesion together, keep raising awareness and building superstars like Henry Pollock, you're going to be in a great place."
England's Nations Championship schedule and squad preparations
England's involvement in the inaugural Nations Championship, which features 12 teams including Argentina, Australia, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, continues this month with three crucial fixtures before Finals Weekend.
According to Yahoo Sports, Borthwick has named a 36-player training squad for the November campaign, with captain Maro Itoje returning to the fold and centre Joe Marchant back in contention following injury.
England will face Australia, Japan and New Zealand ahead of Finals Weekend, which takes place November 27–28 at Twickenham. The squad will be tested against some of the world's elite sides as they bid to make an impact in the competition's inaugural year.
What happens next for England
England's next scheduled match is against Australia on Sunday, November 8, at Twickenham, kicking off at 3:10 p.m. GMT. The team will then host Japan on November 14 at 4:40 p.m. GMT and face New Zealand on November 21 at 2:10 p.m. GMT.
According to Rugby World, the Nations Championship Finals Weekend is scheduled for November 27–29 at Twickenham, with fixtures yet to be confirmed. These matches will provide Borthwick with the opportunity to demonstrate that his long-term project remains on track despite the Six Nations setback.
