Sir Clive Woodward didn’t mince his words as he laid the blame for England’s narrow defeat against the All Blacks squarely on the shoulders of Steve Borthwick.
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England’s autumn opener started with promise but took a painful twist as Mark Tele’a came back off the bench to land a game-winning try in the 76th minute, sending England home with a familiar sense of deja vu.
In his Mail Online column, Woodward wrote with frustration: “Steve Borthwick’s methods must be questioned because the game was there for the taking. The team were in control.” For Woodward, it wasn’t just about the final moments but a tactical misstep that England couldn’t afford.
According to Woodward, England had an eight-point lead at 22-14 with 20 minutes to go—prime time to keep the pressure on. But Borthwick, he argues, made a “crime” of what seemed like pre-planned substitutions. Off went Ben Spencer, Marcus Smith, and soon after, Chandler Cunningham-South—all key players on the day.
“Absolute Madness” as Substitutions Strike
For Woodward, these weren’t just any subs—they were a “raft of what clearly seemed premeditated substitutions.” His assessment was clear: “It was absolute madness.” Woodward noted that the trio was visibly thriving, showing no signs of fatigue. “When Smith sat down on the bench, he almost looked around and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, ‘Is that it? Is that me done?’” he described, capturing Smith’s apparent bewilderment.
As the pressure mounts on Borthwick, we dive into the top five coaches tipped by the bookies as potential successors.
Betting to replace under pressure Steve Borthwick:
Rob Baxter – 12/1
The long-serving Exeter Chiefs coach has built a highly successful team, guiding them from the Championship to European champions.
Although Baxter has expressed satisfaction with his role at Exeter, he remains open to discussing the England job. His experience is primarily at the club level, which might be a consideration for the RFU in selecting a national head coach.
Andy Farrell – 10/1
Ireland’s current head coach, Andy Farrell, would be a high-profile option for England, especially given his previous role as their defence coach from 2011 to 2015.
However, he is under contract with Ireland through 2025, and his departure following England’s disappointing 2015 World Cup could complicate a return to the RFU.
