Steve Borthwick has been given the unequivocal backing of the Rugby Football Union to lead England into next year's World Cup, even if the side performs poorly this autumn, according to The Guardian.
Borthwick's contract was extended in September to run beyond the 2028 Six Nations, despite England's worst ever Six Nations performance this year, a move intended to avoid speculation before the tournament. He remains under pressure after five defeats in the last seven matches.
Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, said he could not see a scenario in which Borthwick would be replaced, irrespective of results this month. Sweeney said the union was committed to Borthwick and believed in what he was doing, acknowledging England had a difficult Six Nations but saying the RFU wanted to see continued progress. He said the extension was intended to let the coaching team focus on the World Cup without distraction and to carry the same staff into the 2028 Six Nations.
England's autumn campaign features matches against Australia, Japan and New Zealand, plus a rankings match on the inaugural Nations Championship finals weekend. The fly-half Fin Smith, 24, came through a key training session on Wednesday and is primed to face the Wallabies after nursing a calf injury.