Under-fire Borthwick laments ill-disciplined performance
REACTION: England head coach Steve Borthwick highlighted his team’s ill-discipline as the turning point in their shock 18-23 loss to Italy in the Six Nations.
The result will be spoken about in the rugby folklore for generations to come as Italy broke a 33-match losing streak against their more fancied opponents.
The result, however, shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering Italy’s growth under head coach Gonzalo Quesada since taking the reins after the 2023 World Cup.
In a match which was close throughout, there was little to separate the two sides, but discipline made the difference with England picking up two yellow cards to Italy’s one.
Borthwick complimented Italy on their growth and performance, but lamented his team’s poor discipline, which ultimately swung the momentum into the Azzurri’s favour.
“Credit to Italy, who have come a long way,” England coach Steve Borthwick told ITV.
“We are gutted. For 60 minutes, we are in control, and those two sin-bins hurt us.
“Discipline is a significant factor. It is something we have to improve.”
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Before the tournament began, with England on an 11-match winning streak, Borthwick had spoken about next week’s trip to Paris being a potential title-decider against France.
Instead, England will be merely hoping to avoid the wooden spoon and get a win that would see them finish no higher than fourth.
“As we look at this over the last 12 months, we have been scoring a lot of tries, but right now we’re not able to apply as much scoreboard pressure as we want because we are not getting over the line,” Borthwick told BBC Sport.
“There are a couple of areas, especially in the breakdown, where we are turning over the ball too much.
“Clearly, this is a really challenging and tough time. We talk about intensity all week, and I thought their intensity was very good today, but it was our discipline that cost us.
“I have seen the players, and they are really feeling this.”
The two England yellow cards, which came shortly after Italy hooker Giacomo Nicotera was sent to the sinbin, turned the game in the Azzurri’s favour.
“It is disappointing. I think it is on us as players – we have to own the performance,” captain Maro Itoje, who was yellow-carded alongside flanker Sam Underhill, told BBC radio.
“This team has put together good performances over the past year, but recently we haven’t.
“We have to face the facts and get back to work.”
Itoje added: “As captain, I take responsibility for that.”
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