Ex-England captain believes it is time for Steve Borthwick’s ‘sheltered TikTok dancers’ to stand up against France

England are set to play France in the final match of the Six Nations with their ambitions for lifting the trophy well and truly gone after their three defeats in the competition.

Steve Borthwick and his players entered the competition as favourites, at least among many rugby fans and pundits, with this final match expected to be a Grand Slam showdown.

However, it has not worked out this way, as England sits fifth in the championship, having suffered humbling defeats to Scotland, Ireland and Italy.

Serious questions have now been asked about this England team, its coaching setup and whether there needs to be an overhaul as the World Cup comes closer into frame.

Former England captain Courtney Lawes has raised a unique criticism of Borthwick’s team ahead of Le Crunch.

England head coach Steve Borthwick before the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham

Writing in the Times, he said: “After three consecutive defeats, their attitude in Paris has to be: kill or be killed. Figuratively speaking, of course. But I don’t know if enough of England’s young players really know what that means.

“Up until now those younger lads have known only sunshine and rainbows in their international careers. This Six Nations has been a massive wake-up call.

“They are getting a real taste of what rugby is like when the sport that means so much to them is not going well. It can crush you and destroy your confidence.

“This is not a dig at anyone’s background — but this might be the worst point in their lives.

Alex Coles, Henry Pollock and Fin Smith of England line up for the national anthem prior to the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between Italy and England (Getty Images)

“The younger generation of players coming through, especially in England, are quite sheltered. You only have to look at the TikTok dance that Henry Pollock, Tommy Freeman, Freddie Steward and Fin Smith recorded last autumn. My God, I could not imagine any other team in England’s history where that would have happened.

“I’m not saying it was unacceptable or a bad thing. I’m just saying there’s a difference between the boys who want to do that kind of stuff and the boys who have been through the wringer and have faced pretty hard times.”

It will be interesting to see if Borthwick’s side can stand up and shock the French by emerging victorious this Saturday while in the process crushing France’s title hopes.