Joe Marler believes 2026 Six Nations experience should benefit England’s World Cup campaign

English fans are currently captivated by World Cup fever as they watch their nation strive for a second title this summer; however, while many rugby supporters will be monitoring their nation’s performance, they will be more excited for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Supporters may have doubts around this England team lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time ever next year due to their 2026 Six Nations campaign, where they finished fifth and suffered a first-ever loss to Italy.

Steve Borthwick and his squad will be aware of the pressure to improve their results and performances this summer in the Nations Championship to persuade fans that England can be crowned world champions in 2027.

While many fans may hold this view, former England international Joe Marler is not too worried about whether the team gets the results this summer or autumn.

Joe Marler of England looks on prior to the Autumn Nations Series 2024 match between England and New Zealand All Blacks (Getty Images)

Marler said: “In terms of England's chances, I think they'll make the semis at least. I think they'll go deep into the tournament. It doesn't depend on how they go this summer or in the autumn.

"It never is because we entered 2023 after suffering our first-ever loss to Fiji at Twickenham. You go into a tournament, and it's backed against the wall. It's tournament rugby, and you can do anything when you get there.”

England came close to reaching the final of the 2023 World Cup, being edged out in a seismic battle by the South Africans in the semifinal as a late Handre Pollard penalty secured a 16-15 win for the Springboks.

This was despite the disjointed preparations for the tournament as England struggled in the 2023 Six Nations while also losing three of their four warm-up matches for the World Cup, yet they came within a kick of reaching the final in Paris.

In stark contrast was their preparation for the 2019 World Cup, in which they finished second in the Six Nations and won three of their four warm-up fixtures for the competition.

The 95-cap England international would prefer Borthwick’s side to have similar preparation to 2019 for next year’s World Cup to give them the best chance to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy, and so he is hopeful the squad has learned from their tough 2026 Six Nations campaign.

England look dejected after their defeat during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between Italy and England at Stadio Olimpico

Marler said: “So I'm hoping that this group, you know, does that going into next year. They take the learnings from it. And the young lads in that group then sort of have grown a little bit more.

“Ideally, you'd like to see the growth from the Six Nations through the summer, through to the autumn. That's what I want to see from them. But I think they've got enough talent and potential in that squad to go deep into the tournament.

“Now, they're a bit more experienced and have worked through the tougher days.”

Supporters will be confident England should make it to the knockout stages of the World Cup next year in a group containing Wales, Tonga, and Zimbabwe.

To reach the same stage as they did at the 2023 World Cup, it is likely they would have to face Italy and Argentina, two teams they have a fine record against, beating the Azzurri in 97% of their fixtures while holding an 80%-win record against Los Pumas.

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