England's defeat to Italy goes straight in as one of their worst five losses of all time
Steve Borthwick was in a buoyant mood as he waltzed on stage at the launch of the 2026 Six Nations in Edinburgh, as England were considered favourites for the competition by many.
The head coach was spreading a message that England fans should be booking their tickets for Paris in what was expected to be a Grand Slam showdown between England and France in the final game of the competition.
There was a view that this was just the next step on their inevitable march towards lifting the Webb Ellis Cup at the World Cup in Australia next year, however, things can change rapidly in sport, and boy have they for Borthwick.
England are now in crisis, and Borthwick’s head has been placed on the ledge of the guillotine, with many English fans hopeful his reign will be over following the France fixture.
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Why is this?
Well, because of the three defeats in this year’s Six Nations, against their auld enemy, Scotland; a declining Ireland; and Italy, a team they have never lost to previously.
England are well and truly in crisis now, according to many of their ex-internationals, after this defeat to Italy, with several branding it as the most embarrassing and concerning defeat ever in English rugby.
However, is this view correct?
The English have suffered some humbling defeats in their history as a rugby nation, but has this loss to the Azzurri topped the list? We will let you make up your mind after having a trip down memory lane to some infamous days.
England’s first-ever defeat to Fiji
Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, Fiji made their way to London to face England, with Steve Borthwick’s side aiming to demonstrate they were a force to be reckoned with ahead of the competition in France.
It would be a famous day for the Fijians as they secured their first-ever win over the English and, in the process, inflicted a fifth defeat in six ahead of the World Cup.
When the final whistle blew, the gloom around English rugby had deepened even further with their first defeat by a side from outside the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship.
The Pacific Islanders scored three second-half tries at Twickenham as England's fragile defence struggled, an element they have not addressed three years later.
Miraculously, England would reach the semi-final of the World Cup, where they narrowly lost to South Africa, so this defeat seemingly did not have a disastrous impact, and there will be hope that is the same with the Italy loss.
England’s 78-0 loss to Australia
Brisbane would be the venue for England’s heaviest-ever defeat when they faced Australia on June 6, 1998.
The Wallabies would inflict a 78-0 loss on Clive Woodward’s side, in what was a humbling experience for all involved on the English side.
While it can be argued it was not a true reflection of the quality in the two nations, as it was obvious England had fielded a weakened side, it is still an embarrassing result to have on your resume.
Just over a year out from the World Cup in 1999, with several of the matches set to be hosted in England, it was a result that truly cemented in many fans’ minds that Woodward’s side would be nowhere near it, while the Wallabies would be considered among the favourites, with Australia lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in a comprehensive performance over France.
England’s pool stage elimination at the 2015 World Cup
There was much hope among the England fan base as Stuart Lancaster’s side entered the 2015 World Cup, being hosted in the nation that founded the sport.
While they were not considered favourites, there were hopes they could at least reach the latter stages of the competition, but these dreams were quickly extinguished.
England crashed out in the pool stage thanks to defeats to Wales and Australia, however, it was the Wallabies' 33-13 defeat that hurt the most and the fashion of how they lost.
They were outclassed by the Wallabies and were made to look like boys as they were torn apart by Australia.
A strange feeling then hung over this World Cup following the elimination of England, as there had been much excitement built up in the country through the media, but following this defeat it died off; at least that was the experience of many within the country after this defeat to the Wallabies.
England’s 2011 Six Nations defeat to Ireland
England claimed the Six Nations crown in 2011 relatively easily, as they were far and away the best team in the competition that year, but the final fixture against Ireland has gone down in infamy.
A win over the Irish would have secured the Grand Slam for the English, and there was much expectation that they would do so, as Ireland, due to Declan Kidney’s side, struggled throughout and suffered defeat to France and Wales.
Ireland knew the stakes and roused themselves to put in their best performance of the competition to beat the English comprehensively and crush the dreams of Martin Johnson’s side earning the Grand Slam.
A defeat to what was a strong Ireland squad could happen to anyone; it was what happened following the defeat that has made this defeat a complete embarrassment.
An advertisement celebrating England winning the Grand Slam was leaked after kit sponsor Nike showed several players in a series of action clips. Signing off the advert that was widely circulated on the internet is an image of England's red rose emblem on top of a caption reading 'Grand Slam champions 2011'.
Rugby fans from around the world all collectively joined together to laugh at the English and feel a sense of great pride in the Irish victory, extinguishing this arrogance.
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan