“Delusion” – England fans turn on Steve Borthwick after post-match interview
Rugby NewsSunday, 05 July 2026 at 09:48
England supporters have hit out at Steve Borthwick following his post-match interview after the crushing defeat against South Africa.
The Red Rose were beaten 45-21 at Ellis Park as the Springboks ran in seven tries to condemn England to a fifth consecutive defeat.
⭐ Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
Borthwick attempted to focus on the positives afterwards, but his assessment did not go down well with supporters.
One fan wrote: “If you hadn’t watched the match or seen the score and just watched that interview, you’d think England lost by three points in a top-quality game. They lost by 24 points, let in seven tries and had two players yellow carded. There is a massive amount of delusion going on.”
Another added: “Sorry, but he just comes out with the same old platitudes. His time is done. England are not moving forward, they’re going backwards.”
A third said: “SB is a good club head coach, but he’s out of his depth with England.”
Others were equally unimpressed with the tone of the interview.
“I felt Steve Borthwick was struggling to find a way to sound credible in that interview,” one supporter commented.
Another wrote: “Steve. We saw the game. We know what happened. So thanks for confirming the accuracy of our eyes.”
There were also calls for the RFU to act, with one fan declaring: “Can’t have him lead us into the World Cup.”
Another simply asked: “Have the RFU bought the Willis brothers their plane tickets yet?”
England now face Fiji in Liverpool before travelling to Argentina for their final Nations Championship fixture of the summer. With five straight defeats behind them, the pressure on Borthwick is only increasing.
Four England players who flopped against Springboks – and who should replace them
With Fiji up next at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, changes could now be on the cards.
Here are four England players who struggled against the Springboks – and who should replace them.
Marcus Smith
Thrown into the starting XV at the 11th hour after George Furbank was ruled out with appendicitis, Smith once again found himself deployed in the more unfamiliar full-back role.
There appeared to be an alarming lack of communication in England’s back three early on, with high balls allowed to bounce and South Africa immediately putting the visitors under huge pressure.
Smith’s one-on-one defence was then exposed by Kurt-Lee Arendse for the Springboks’ third try, with the diminutive playmaker unable to bundle the winger into touch.
There were some brighter moments. His pass resulted in Arendse deliberately knocking the ball on and receiving a yellow card, while Smith added value when stepping up as a first receiver.
However, he was largely anonymous after the break and was caught biting in defensively in the build-up to Jesse Kriel’s try.
Smith remains a world-class fly-half, but England’s continued attempts to turn him into an international full-back remain unconvincing.
Replacement: Freddie Steward
If fit, Steward should return at full-back against Fiji. England need greater security under the high ball and a more natural presence in the No.15 shirt.
Tommy Freeman
England’s persistence with one of the world’s best wingers at outside centre continued to underwhelm.
Freeman was penalised inside the opening minute for failing to release, handing South Africa the platform from which they launched their devastating early assault.
There were flashes of attacking promise. He linked nicely with Seb Atkinson, distributed well after half-breaks and produced a powerful carry from a lineout in the build-up to England’s second try.
However, he never looked entirely comfortable in the midfield and was badly beaten by Cheslin Kolbe’s footwork before eventually being moved back to the wing.
His afternoon ended with a yellow card after catching Damian Willemse high.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 04: Tommy Freeman, Ben Earl and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso of England appear dejected after conceding their teams fourth try during the 2026 Nations Championship match between South Africa and England at Ellis Park Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by David Rogers - Nations Championship/Nations Championship via Getty Images)
We are still none the wiser as to whether Freeman can become a top-class international centre. There are no such doubts about his ability on the wing.
Replacement: Move Freeman to the wing and bring in Henry Slade
The experiment should end. Freeman should return to his strongest position, with the experienced Slade restored at outside centre.
Tom Curry
Curry worked tirelessly, making 16 tackles in just 55 minutes, but there were few standout moments from the Sale Sharks flanker.
Much of his work came at the ruck as England attempted to stop South Africa from slowing possession, yet he was unable to pose his usual threat at the breakdown.
He was penalised early in the second half under the new maul law after going beyond the ball and was also involved in the defensive lapse that allowed Grant Williams to score.
Curry eventually made way for Guy Pepper after 54 minutes.
The concern for England is that his season has provided growing evidence that the current Curry is not quite the destructive force of old.
Replacement: Henry Pollock
Pollock has been one of England’s most explosive forwards and deserves an opportunity from the start against Fiji. His pace, carrying and relentless energy could provide exactly the spark Borthwick’s back-row needs.
Jack van Poortvliet
A surprise starter ahead of Alex Mitchell, Van Poortvliet endured a frustrating afternoon.
His best moment came with a sharp snipe and superb offload to Finn Smith, helping England finally unlock the South African defence after falling 17-0 behind.
Unfortunately, that precision proved to be a one-off.
Too many early box kicks lacked effective chasers, while his service from the breakdown often lacked urgency as South Africa applied pressure.
He was also unfortunate to get a touch on the ball before Jamie George crossed, leaving the hooker offside and seeing the try ruled out.
An ambitious pass was then almost intercepted by Grant Williams shortly before half-time, before a soft knock-on preceded his departure after 54 minutes.
Replacement: Alex Mitchell
Mitchell should return to the starting XV against Fiji. His speed of service and ability to increase the tempo remain crucial to England’s attack.
Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players
From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.
Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
Loading