Jamie George makes surprising 2027 World Cup prediction

It has been a frustrating tournament for Steve Borthwick’s side, who ended the Six Nations in fifth place with only a single win. Their performances across the competition have come under significant criticism, with growing pressure on Borthwick and his coaching team.

Expectations had been high before the tournament began. Many believed England could push for a Grand Slam, particularly after arriving on the back of an 11-game winning run.

Instead, their dip in form has caught many by surprise and led to concerns that the squad may be going backwards.

One of the few positives came in their narrow defeat to France, when Thomas Ramos kicked a late penalty to hand Les Bleus victory and secure a second successive Six Nations title.

Despite the difficult campaign, Saracens hooker and England co-captain George believes there are still reasons for optimism, insisting fans can look forward positively to the 2027 World Cup, where he expects England to be competitive.

Reflecting on the France match and England’s struggles earlier in the tournament, George said, "I actually think like that looked like the team that we have been for a long period of time, over a year now, that sort of performance, that sort of character, the movement of the ball, things that we were being complimented for a lot we were able to put that on the field.

"So yes, it makes it more frustrating that we weren't able to do that in the Scotland and Ireland game in particular.

"We are gutted with that result and the results that we had with the Six Nations as a whole but I think tonight has shown us, and hopefully showing everyone else that when we play like that, we're going to be right up there in 16 months’ time."

The World Cup in Australia will also bring the curtain down on George’s playing career, with the Saracens hooker having already confirmed he intends to retire from rugby after the tournament.

Although England ended the competition with an improved display, the harsh reality remains that it was their worst Six Nations campaign statistically. George openly acknowledged that.

"We are gutted about that. I think that we should be proud of that performance, but I am not shying away from the fact that one in five is not good enough.

"That is not good enough for an England team that have got a huge amount of talent. The players need to take responsibility for that. Because what we put out on the field in a couple of games in particular wasn't good enough.

"Look, tonight we threw everything at it. We played against a very good France team, and on another day we might have won that game. It was the same in Italy.

"I actually thought that a lot of what we did in Italy was pretty good and much more like the sort of team that we want to be. But again, we didn't get results and it's a results based business. And we are very, very frustrated with that.

"But I am hoping that we've given a lot of England fans a smile on their faces today, which is ultimately what it's all about. And put a lot of pride back into the shirt. I think that there should be a huge amount of excitement leading into the summer."

England’s challenge will not get any easier, with their next Test scheduled against South Africa in Johannesburg, widely regarded as one of the toughest fixtures in world rugby. However, George believes his side can rise to the occasion.

"Our set-piece is in a great spot. Look, South Africa haven't played for 10 months. It's very difficult for us to comment on where they're at, but they are world-class.

"They're the best team in the world. Playing them in Johannesburg is a difficult place to play them. But what an amazing opportunity that we've got with a great group of players.

"And we're going to be excited about that one."