Joe Marler believes England avoid Manchester United's mistake with key decision ahead of World Cup
The RFU chose to back Steve Borthwick as England head coach despite the nation's worst ever Six Nations campaign, with the 46-year-old being viewed as the man to lead them in the World Cup.
England entered the Six Nations campaign on the back of 11 straight Test wins and began their campaign with a convincing victory over Wales.
However, they would struggle with their performances and results following this opening win as they lost the next four fixtures, including a first-ever defeat to Italy.
Several sections of the fanbase were calling for the RFU to remove Borthwick from his position as head coach of England, but they opted to give their backing to the 57-cap international.
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Now, Joe Marler has explained exactly why the RFU would have made this decision despite the poor Six Nations campaign in 2026.
The 95-cap international said: “I think it makes sense. It was also a decision that was probably made by the squad.
“He got a lot of heat from outside noise and the press. But all of that doesn't really matter if he's got the backing of the squad. And they believe in the processes that he's put in place.
“They believe in the coaching staff that they've got there. And it makes sense. I think if they were to have changed something up, it would have just, I don't know, destabilised it even more.
“And then you might have been in a situation where, a bit like Man United, you then work your way through another 12 managers before you go, 'Oh, we're going to stick with this one for a bit of stability.'
"Coaches go through ups and downs; teams go through ups and downs and tough periods. It's about how you bounce back from them that really counts.”
England will be aiming to show an improvement this summer in the Nations Championship; however, they will not have it easy in their first fixture as they travel to South Africa to face the Springboks.
They will then travel to Liverpool to face Fiji before finishing off their summer international window with a trip to Argentina to play Los Pumas.
Borthwick’s side will then have an autumn international window before moving into 2027, when they will compete to lift their first Six Nations since 2020 and their first World Cup since 2003, a year that Marler believes will be pivotal in the head coach’s career.
The former British and Irish Lion said: “Judge him on the back of 2027 and then make a decision whether you commit to him or not.”
Silverware could see a move to extend Borthwick’s tenure as head coach of England; however, at present it is likely he will leave his role at the end of the World Cup campaign.
Joe Marler is ambassador for new Fuller’s Pride Lager, crafted with simple, high-quality British ingredients to support British farming. A refreshing, crisp lager - perfect to enjoy with family and friends. Find out more here: www.londonpride.co.uk.
Topics: Rugby, Rugby Union
Brendan McGilligan