England’s 2026 Six Nations ended in heartbreaking fashion with a last-gasp 48-46 defeat by France in Paris on Saturday night. And while the performance by Steve Borthwick’s players at the Stade de France gave hope for the future, the bottom line is that this campaign was simply not good enough.
This was England’s worst ever tournament. They won just one of five games, finished fifth and conceded the greatest number of points and tries in their history.
Borthwick and his players had been expected to challenge for the title, and in the end they only just avoided the Wooden Spoon.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Alex Bywater runs the rule over Borthwick and each of the 30 England players to wear a white shirt during the tournament…
This was England’s worst ever tournament. They won just one of five games, finished fifth and conceded the greatest number of points and tries in their history
Steve Borthwick’s players had been expected to challenge for the title, and in the end they only just avoided the Wooden Spoon
| Team | W | L | PD | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. France | 4 | 1 | +81 | 5 | 21 |
| 2. Ireland | 4 | 1 | +38 | 3 | 19 |
| 3. Scotland | 3 | 2 | -1 | 4 | 16 |
| 4. Italy | 2 | 3 | -38 | 1 | 9 |
| 5. England | 1 | 4 | +2 | 4 | 8 |
| 6. Wales | 1 | 4 | -82 | 2 | 6 |
BACKS
Freddie Steward – 4/10
Started the tournament but like others, he paid the price for the Scotland and Ireland defeats and was nowhere to be seen in the final two rounds. Substituted before half-time against the Irish as England began woefully again. It was bizarre that George Furbank didn’t get a minute at full-back, as he has to be first choice in that position.
Tom Roebuck – 5
A real mixed bag. Scored as a late replacement for the injured Immanuel Feyi-Waboso against Wales, missed Ireland and then crossed again against both Italy and France. There are still worries over his defence and that he’s a one-trick pony with his high ball skills. He didn’t play a minute for Sale between the autumn and the Six Nations, so perhaps he wasn’t fully fit.
Tommy Freeman – 7
He remains one of England’s best players, scoring three tries in this tournament, but there are still doubts over whether he should be at wing or centre. Borthwick clearly wants to play him in midfield, but he spent another campaign mixing between the two. Wherever he plays, England need to find a way of ensuring he runs in space. He can carry hard but is wasted doing grunt work.
Fraser Dingwall – 4
The Northampton man had enjoyed a good autumn and deserved to start the campaign as England’s No 12. But Borthwick will finish the tournament with question marks over who should be wearing the shirt. Dingwall is another one who disappeared after Ireland and may struggle to retain his place amid competition from Seb Atkinson and Max Ojomoh.
Henry Arundell – 5
More ups and downs than a rollercoaster. An easy hat-trick against Wales and a score in Scotland, but his two yellow cards and subsequent red in Edinburgh summed up England’s poor discipline. Still significant work needed for him to nail down a starting spot.
Henry Arundell (bottom) clatters into Kyle Steyn and earns a 20-minute red card for his second sin-bin offence
George Ford – 5
The star man against Wales but once again the fall guy when things went wrong. Dropped after the Scotland and Ireland defeats having been jeered by Twickenham during the latter, after finally finding touch following a couple of miscues. He must still be a part of the squad building to the World Cup regardless of whether he starts or not, as his experience and expertise is second to none. Can England play as they did in Paris with Ford at No 10? That’s the big question.
Alex Mitchell – 5
A hamstring injury against Ireland meant his tournament ended early. He shows with Northampton that he’s a brilliant running No 9, so he’s wasted enacting Borthwick’s kick-based game plan. Let him loose and you’ll see how good he is!
Ben Spencer – 6
Parachuted in once Mitchell fell lame, and showed in Paris that he can be more than just a kicking scrum-half. Went well up against the great Antoine Dupont on Saturday night and if he can reproduce that level, he is certainly capable of usurping Mitchell.
Marcus Smith – 5.5
No one – not even the player himself, nor Borthwick – knows what his role is and that remains a big problem for a man of Smith’s talent. He was used off the bench in four of the five games and it is tough to see him getting into the starting XV. There was at least a strong, try-scoring cameo against France.
No one – not even Marcus Smith (centre) himself – knows what his role is and that remains a big problem for a man of his talent
Fin Smith – 6.5
Took control at fly-half after Ford was once again deemed surplus to requirements. He set up a nice try for Roebuck in Rome, but otherwise wasn’t quite at his best in the Italy humbling. France was much more like it, however. He didn’t really do anything wrong to lose the England No 10 shirt in the first place last autumn, and now he’s back in possession of it, he should keep it for now.
Ollie Lawrence – 3
Struggles with a knee injury meant that his only appearance came against Ireland and England were cut to ribbons defensively in the outside channels in that game. He’s far better than he showed in this championship.
Jack van Poortvliet – 5
Played back-up scrum-half to Spencer for the final two games with Mitchell injured. His decision to kick away possession late on in the France loss must be questioned as it gave Les Bleus the possession from which they won the game through Thomas Ramos’ penalty. Still plenty more to give, however.
Elliot Daly – 5
It was the right call to bring back his experience at full-back with the team in crisis, but against both Italy and France he looked a yard short of a gallop and was too regularly exposed in the backfield. Italy had a lot of joy finding space with their kicking game, for example. The 33-year-old is by no means certain to retain his squad place this summer.
England were cut to ribbons defensively in the outside channels in the only game Ollie Lawrence (right) played. He’s far better than he showed in this championship
Seb Atkinson – 6
The Gloucester man was unlucky to lose his starting spot from the autumn due to injury and was behind Dingwall in the pecking order at the start of the Six Nations as a result. Rome wasn’t a fair reflection of what he can do but France was promising. He can bring more punch to the No 12 shirt than his rivals and worth persevering with.
Cadan Murley – 5
Flying winger played for England A in their win over Ireland before coming in completely from the cold to face Italy and Scotland. His work under the high ball was good and he scored in Paris, but England need Feyi-Waboso back on the left flank as quickly as possible. He was a huge miss.
FORWARDS
Ellis Genge – 5.5
Won’t be happy with how he performed. England’s scrum was very good across the championship, but as an individual Genge probably wasn’t quite at his best. One of many England players to be shown a costly yellow card – France scored 21 points when Genge was off the pitch on Saturday.
Jamie George – 6.5
Very reliable lineout thrower and when he was benched for Scotland and Ireland, the wheels fell off without the 35-year-old, who remains key to this squad as a senior figure. Luke Cowan-Dickie’s struggles when he started matches underlined how George is someone England can always rely on.
Joe Heyes – 8.5
One of the few England players who can be really, really pleased with his performances across the whole championship. The Leicester prop was a key figure in England’s strong scrum and is more athletic around the park than given credit for. Heyes has established himself as a key figure with Will Stuart on the sidelines.
Joe Heyes was one of the few England players who can be really, really pleased with his performances across the whole championship
Alex Coles – 6.5
Continued his progression from the autumn, and if Ollie Chessum stays at No 6, Coles could find himself as a full-time lock partner to Maro Itoje. Very athletic for a second row – he was good in the loose but can do the grunt work too. Promising.
Ollie Chessum – 7.5
Dropped to the bench for Italy after a disappointing day against Ireland but wasn’t the only one. He responded with a stunning display against France, scoring twice and providing an assist for Coles when playing as a flanker rather than lock. Could that be a sign of the future for England?
Maro Itoje (captain) – 5
Itoje started on the bench for Wales after the tragic death of his mother and was nowhere near his best after that, showing real but understandable signs of fatigue. Two yellow cards were rare for him and his explosion at Fin Smith during the Italy defeat showed clear signs of pressure – his leadership should be questioned as a result. He was much better in France but it’s obvious he still needs a rest.
Guy Pepper – 5
Suffered his first defeat in an England shirt against Scotland and things got even worse from there. He’s played No 6 and 7 but he might be troubled for a starting spot if Chessum continues on the blindside flank.
Sam Underhill – 4.5
Substituted at half-time against Scotland after poor showing, and was benched against Ireland as a result. He’s often in and out of the team but remains a Borthwick favourite and his tackling ability means he’ll stay a part of the setup. Rightly so.
Ben Earl – 8
His comments post-Italy that he thought England had played well understandably rankled with supporters. Earl’s talking was done best on the field. Top of the Six Nations charts for total carries with 94, that sums up his never-say-die approach. Always offers himself as a forward option and remains first-choice No 8.
Ben Earl was top of the Six Nations charts for total carries with 94, which sums up his never-say-die approach
Luke Cowan-Dickie – 3
Replaced after just 29 minutes against Ireland as he couldn’t find a lineout jumper with his throws for love nor money, but he’s the type of character to brush off setbacks. The reality is England don’t have better hooking options than him and George right now, even if Theo Dan must surely come through at some point.
Bevan Rodd – 5
With Fin Baxter injured, he was a regular reserve to Genge at loosehead. He didn’t necessarily do anything wrong but also didn’t push Genge hard to start.
Trevor Davison – 5
Almost identical to Rodd, but on the other side of the scrum. Had a shot with Stuart absent but Heyes was so good that his appearances were minimal. It was his high tackle late on in the France game that led to Ramos winning it but it would be wrong to blame him for the defeat.
Tom Curry – 4
Played very well on last summer’s Lions tour despite nursing a serious wrist injury. It all caught up with him in this year’s Championship. Nowhere near his best, in and out of the side, and then suffered a calf problem in the warm-up to the Italy game. Like Itoje, he also badly, badly needs a rest.
Henry Pollock – 5
Deserved the chance to make his first Test start against Ireland after impressive bench cameos, but he couldn’t have the same impact. He’s had criticism for baiting the French crowd in Paris though the bigger mistake was the pass he threw at the death. Those who criticise him or his antics are misguided, however. Still only 21 and will be back stronger for his first real experience of a setback.
Henry Pollock is still only 21 and will be back stronger for his first real experience of a setback
Chandler Cunningham-South – 5
Hard to assess him in detail given he had less than 10 minutes on the field as a replacement against Italy and France.
HEAD COACH
Steve Borthwick – 3
England went into this Six Nations on an 11-game winning streak and in a good position to challenge for the title. As promising as the French performance was, it cannot be glossed over that Borthwick has taken charge of an awful campaign.
He must show in the summer against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina that England can play as they did in Paris consistently. A reversion to the shocking Scotland, Ireland and Italy displays should cost him his job.
