“Horrendous.” That’s the word. Not some media pundit or a frustrated fan, but Conor O’Shea himself, the guy in charge of England’s international rugby success, dropping that bomb about the men’s team’s 2026 Six Nations campaign. And honestly, it feels right. But here’s the kicker: despite all that, head coach Steve Borthwick just got his contract extended. Seriously, what in the world is going on?
“Horrendous” Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It
Let’s just be real for a second. That 2026 Six Nations run was brutal. England only managed to win one single match, their absolute worst performance since the tournament expanded a full quarter-century ago. Think about that for a second. It wasn’t just losing, either. They looked completely lost out there. There was no cohesion, no discipline, and zero tactical variety. It was genuinely tough to watch, and it rightfully kicked off a firestorm of questions about Borthwick’s future as the main man. You’d think after a campaign described as “horrendous,” changes would be on the horizon, right?
The “Holding Pattern” That Nobody Asked For
So, with all those deep, widespread questions swirling, what did the Rugby Football Union do? They extended Borthwick’s contract. Yep, you read that right. His terms now run beyond the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, all the way to the end of the 2028 Six Nations. O’Shea calling the performances “horrendous” in one breath, then committing more time and money to Borthwick in the next? It’s curious, to say the least.
O’Shea tried to explain it away, saying you don’t want coaches looking for jobs heading into a tournament. He thinks “certainty” for the group is the best case, and this move buys time to “look properly” after the World Cup. But let’s be clear: this isn’t some massive vote of confidence. It’s nothing like the five-year extension Ireland locked Andy Farrell into back in June. This is pure “holding pattern” territory. It’s all about trying to quiet the noise, stop the speculation that would be deafening if Borthwick’s contract ended right after the World Cup. It’s a tactic they used with the Red Roses before their 2025 World Cup title, extending John Mitchell and then tying him down for four more years after their victory. Is this the RFU hoping lightning strikes twice?
Learning From Past Mistakes?
O’Shea even brought up the 2015 home World Cup, where England got booted out in the pool stages. He believes the RFU rushed to ditch the coaching group back then, which included Stuart Lancaster and even Farrell, after that embarrassment. Their exit paved the way for Eddie Jones and Borthwick to step in. O’Shea thinks “nobody had the gumption to say they are the right people” back then, perhaps hinting at a desire to avoid a repeat.
So, here we are. A “horrendous” Six Nations, an extended contract that’s clearly a delaying tactic, and a whole lot riding on the 2027 Rugby World Cup. If England somehow turns it around, maybe this “holding pattern” looks like genius. But if that “disastrous dip in form” continues, we could be looking at another massive shake-up, just with more time wasted. Get ready, because the next year is going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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