England’s 2026 Six Nations will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Steve Borthwick’s side lost four matches in a single championship for the first time in their history and finished second from bottom in the table — a sobering outcome for a team that had spoken confidently about building momentum towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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But difficult tournaments often accelerate change.
Across the campaign England increasingly turned to younger options and experimented with new combinations, a clear sign the coaching staff are already thinking about the next cycle rather than clinging to the past.
That shift inevitably leaves some experienced figures vulnerable.
For several established names, the 2026 Six Nations may not just have been a disappointing campaign — it may have been the final chapter of their England careers.
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Elliot Daly
Elliot Daly’s afternoon against France summed up the wider dilemma surrounding his England future.
From England’s first two attacking opportunities he kicked possession away — decisions that felt symptomatic of a backline still struggling for attacking clarity. There was a bright moment when Daly delivered a sharp pass that helped create Tom Roebuck’s try, but defensively he was exposed more than once in the wide channels.
The moment Marcus Smith replaced him — and scored almost instantly — only sharpened the contrast.
His outing against Italy earlier in the tournament didn’t do much to strengthen his case either. Daly was solid enough under the high ball but struggled to impose himself on the game and England’s backfield defence looked vulnerable during key moments.
At 33 and with England clearly trying to refresh their back-three options ahead of the next World Cup cycle, Daly increasingly feels like a stopgap rather than a long-term piece of the puzzle.
Versatility has always been his selling point.
But in a squad now prioritising specialists, that versatility might no longer be enough.
