What Borthwick must do if he wants to save his job – Andy Goode

Steve Borthwick needs a win against Fiji to keep his job and the best way to secure that is by going on the attack.

Despite the fact they seem to have several defensive coaches on the staff, England’s defence has been woeful of late, conceding 24 tries in their last 5 Tests, and this Fiji side will have a field day if they go into their shells.

Fiji beat 42 defenders and had 32 offloads in Cardiff last week and the likes of Jiuta Wainiqolo, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Salesi Rayasi, Josua Tuisova and co will run riot if they’re allowed to so England need to manage the game and show their own attacking prowess.

Of course, that doesn’t mean running it from everywhere and it’ll be necessary to kick for field position and utilise the maul and set piece, as Wales did last week, but more than that is needed to keep them on the back foot.

The problem is Borthwick isn’t known for his adventurous mindset and, while there aren’t too many close calls at the moment, his selection is on the conservative side once more.

Henry Slade deserves his shot in the centre and Tommy Freeman’s best position is currently on the wing but if there was ever a game to opt for the experiment of playing him at outside centre, then surely it would be this one.

Meanwhile, Guy Pepper has been brought in for Tom Curry and I just can’t fathom how one of the form back rowers in Europe still can’t get a start, especially when he’s just the sort of personality who might spark this team into life.

Henry Pollock has started just one of his 11 Tests, against Ireland in this year’s Six Nations, yet he’s been on a British & Irish Lions tour, won the Prem title, been named player of the match in the final and shone in just about every department that England are lacking in.

This notion that he’s an excellent finisher because he’s got pace and explosivity has to be done away with, he has stayed on the pitch for the full 80 in every Prem game he’s started in 2026.

Ben Earl has been doing a good job and his 21 carries were more than anyone managed across any of the games in the Nations Championship last weekend but I’d have shifted him to openside and started Pollock at number eight.

I know he’s had a few injury issues but if Alex Mitchell is fit enough to be on the bench, then he’s fit enough to start and he would be the slightly more attacking option than Jack van Poortvliet.

Regardless of whether anyone agrees or disagrees with the alterations, there is talent in abundance in this England team but it’s a mindset shift and evidence of a clear game plan that fans will want to see at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Of course, they could revert to sticking it up the jumper, mauling, kicking and chasing and it’s been proven to be effective in beating Fiji in the past but you don’t learn anything and it just isn’t going to cut it at the moment when the mood is so bleak.

I know they won 12 on the bounce not so long ago but it’s now five straight defeats and a sixth would make it England’s worst run for 20 years. Those seven consecutive losses a couple of decades ago cost Andy Robinson his job.

Borthwick will surely suffer the same fate if England lose to the Fijians and it isn’t just the results, they are a reflection of what clearly isn’t a happy camp despite what players might be saying outwardly.

Discipline has been a major problem and that’s most often a consequence of other areas going wrong but England gave away another 13 penalties last week, nine of those in the second half as South Africa took the game away from them.

If Borthwick’s men show more shape in attack and retain possession, they’ll be under less pressure defensively and concede fewer penalties, so let’s hope we finally see more of Lee Blackett’s imprint on things in Liverpool.

There were positive signs in the narrow defeat in France in March, a lot of which was player-led from what I heard, and Borthwick can’t afford to slip back into the more limited style that he was successful with at club level.

We know Fiji will have their moments, and the return of Caleb Muntz should help their structure and cohesion, but England need to have layers to their attack so Fin Smith has multiple options every time he gets his hands on the ball.

The defeat to Fiji at Twickenham in 2023 was a huge shock but this would be even bigger and there’s absolutely no doubt that some of those experienced Fiji players will be smelling blood and relishing the prospect of causing another upset.

Borthwick needs to make sure the pressure that comes with being on a run of five straight defeats, that mounts with all the talk about his job and that comes with being heavy favourites doesn’t transmit to the players and they’re allowed to go out there with freedom.

If he doesn’t and England plumb new depths to make it their worst run for 20 years, then I think everyone knows the writing is on the wall and they’ll be looking for a new head coach with just 15 months to go until the World Cup.