England’s summer under Borthwick shows progress, but not a clean break from old flaws

England are not standing still under Steve Borthwick, but their summer did not remove the doubts around them. Wins over Fiji and Argentina gave the campaign a positive finish after defeat by South Africa, yet the same discipline issues that damaged their Six Nations remain unresolved.

The RFU had backed Borthwick after England won only once in the Six Nations, so the summer fixtures carried pressure as well as travel demands. A 73-8 victory over Fiji ended a losing run, and the Argentina win kept England in a strong Nations Championship position, but the card count has become too persistent to dismiss as a short-term problem.

There were encouraging signs in attack. England scored heavily in July, and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s return added a sharper edge, particularly against Argentina, where his carrying and line-breaking threat stood out. Tommy Freeman also continues to look dangerous on the wing, giving England a clearer route to turning territory into points.

The bigger question is whether Borthwick can turn flashes into a reliable identity before the World Cup window narrows. With younger players emerging, Maro Itoje due back refreshed, and major November tests against Australia, Japan and New Zealand ahead, England have enough evidence for optimism — but not enough yet for certainty.