Nations Championship: Steve Borthwick's England under pressure ahead of tough South Africa, Argentina Tests | Depleted Ireland seek Eden Park history

We look at some of the major talking points ahead of the summer's inaugural Nations Championship Tests...

England under Steve Borthwick have now had four Six Nations campaigns, failing to win silverware in all of them - championship title or Triple Crown.

In 2026, though, England experienced their worst Six Nations in history.

From five fixtures, they lost four for the first time ever, suffering defeat against Italy in a Test for the first time, as well as a record home loss to Ireland by a 42-21 margin at Twickenham.

They lost to Scotland for the fifth time in six years as the wheels well and truly came off a championship campaign which began with comfortable victory over a poor Wales side at home.

After a last-gasp defeat to France in Paris on the final day, England were left fifth in the standings for the first time, for their lowest ever finish.

Their extremely underwhelming displays were all the more puzzling given England came into the Six Nations on a decent run of form which had seen them beat the likes of New Zealand and Australia in November, and Argentina in two Tests last summer.

But a lack of consistency, porous defence and uninventive or error-strewn attack has generally characterised Borthwick's time in charge, for all that the players at his disposal are clearly talented.