The contingency planning must begin. Empires have been built and demolished in Rome and English rugby suffered a seismic defeat that leaves big questions about Steve Borthwick’s future.
The RFU will not make any changes after one disastrous campaign but if things do not turn around by the summer, then the coach’s salary will be hard to justify. England had never lost to Italy but their 34-year unbeaten record is now over.
England’s broken players gathered in a huddle on the pitch after the final whistle and Maro Itoje delivered some brow-beaten words. Yet what on earth could he say to his team whose next two Tests are away to France and South Africa?
Borthwick threw on Marcus Smith and Henry Pollock and Chandler Cunningham-South in the desperate final throes but nothing could rescue their team from this alarming collapse.
Their discipline was shocking. Borthwick has spent the past fortnight talking about keeping 15 players on the pitch yet two of their most experienced forwards, Itoje and Sam Underhill, sat side-by-side in the sin-bin during the second half. The coach’s messages have clearly not got through.
Recent weeks have shown that Borthwick has little credit with the rugby public. There is little sympathy for his scientific methods when things go south. They do not care for data or projections. The only statistic they care about is the scoreboard.
England are in crisis mode and the players looked shell-shocked after full-time in Rome
England’s pain was contrasted by the utter jubilation from the victorious Italian players
Star centre Tommaso Menoncello scored a crucial try for the hosts after cutting a great line
You hear little about succession plans from the RFU these days. During the Eddie Jones era, the Twickenham executives trumpeted for years about having a war room of candidates.
A huge upset in Paris or Johannesburg could drag England out of the pits but if things do not improve in the July Tests, then the damage could be irreparable.
There are parallels here with England’s defeat by Fiji before the World Cup. England crashed to a new low yet they emerged from the wreckage to reach the semi-finals. The difference now is Borthwick has had three years in the job and he must justify that his methods have legs.
England point towards 22 entries and final margins to validate the way they play. They talk about fast starts but they have now failed to score in the first quarter since their opening game against Wales. They talk about keeping 15 players on the pitch and they failed with that, too.
Outside the Stadio Olimpico, fans gathered around the big screens to make sense of Scotland’s early victory over France. They wore pizza hats and Henry Pollock headbands and pondered the fact that England could finish bottom if they lost in Rome.
They watched a Scottish team who looked unshackled and wondered why England make it look so difficult.
England’s day could not have got off to a worse start. Tom Curry limped off the pitch during the warm-up and was replaced by Sam Underhill. They made their way into Italy’s 22 three times in the first 10 minutes.
They had 74 percent of the possession and 96% of the territory but Ben Spencer kicked the ball into touch, Alex Coles lost the ball at the back of a lineout and Seb Atkinson was turned over.
It was cagey and grizzly. Fin Smith was charged down in his own half and Spencer was picked off at the breakdown. Fast start? Italy were 3-0 ahead after 21 minutes.
There are major questions over Steve Borthwick’s future as England boss
Jamie George and Maro Itoje both required treatment and Ellis Genge had blood pouring down his face as the scrum bailed out Borthwick’s team.
With 26 minutes on the clock, England scored. Earl carried hard off a lineout and finally there was speed in the attack. Smith, Alex Coles and Tommy Freeman combined to score a try with Northampton finger prints.
But discipline was poor. Earl was penalised for obstruction at a maul. There were holes in their defensive line and Tommasso Menoncello ran between Joe Heyes and Sam Underhill to score. The defensive effort was as soft as a Roman tiramisu.
There was an impending sense of doom as the pack closed the gap at the lineout, Simone Ferrari won a turnover and Murley knocked on a contestable kick.
But, in the final play of the half, Smith delivered England’s standout moment. As attackers flooded down the blindside, Smith switched direction and launched a crossfield kick for Tom Roebuck to score.
Leonardo Marin crossed for a vital score in the second half as Italy fought back from behind
Smith kicked two penalties in the second half before Underhill was sin-binned for a high shot on Danilo Fischetti. Paolo Garbisi kicked two penalties of his own before Itoje was sin-binned for foolishly batting the ball out of the scrum-half’s hands at the maul.
With 72 minutes on the clock, the unthinkable happened. Garbisi launched a kick-pass around his half-way line and Italy flooded forwards in a puff of smoke.
Monty Ioane and Menoncello charged down the wing, leaving Daly and Roebuck in their path. Leonardo Marin scored and suddenly England were on the wrong side of history.
Lose in Paris next week and England could finish bottom, which does not reflect the talent Borthwick has at his disposal. Their 12-match winning run is now long behind them. They are staring at their worst ever Six Nations campaign and the RFU must be asking questions as a matter of urgency.
