Maro Itoje has firmly rallied behind head coach Steve Borthwick, declaring the England squad “lucky to have him” following a dominant 45-22 victory over Australia at Allianz Stadium. The England captain’s comments serve as a direct rebuttal to recent media reports alleging internal discontent within the camp. Itoje, who missed the July Tests in South Africa and Argentina, emphasized that the players’ support for Borthwick is absolute, praising him as a “world-class coach” whose leadership was instrumental in securing the win.
England captain silences critics with record-breaking performance against Australia
The match itself provided the ultimate validation for Borthwick’s tactical approach, as England scored seven tries to set a new record for points against the Wallabies. This resounding triumph marks only the third win in England’s last eight encounters with Australia, signaling a significant shift in momentum for the home side. Borthwick revealed that he received pre-game messages from former England coaches urging him to ignore external noise and focus on the rugby, a strategy that clearly paid off as the team executed a high-scoring, attacking performance.
While Itoje did not explicitly confirm whether the recent press scrutiny galvanized the squad, he made it clear that he rejects criticism of Borthwick’s man-management style. The captain’s public endorsement aims to unify the team and dismiss any lingering doubts about the coaching staff’s authority. With the immediate threat of a losing streak neutralized, the focus now shifts to maintaining this cohesive dynamic as England looks to build on this record-breaking performance in the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures.
Source: The Guardian Sport
