Borthwick insists he can handle pressure after Erasmus raises the heat

Steve Borthwick has asserted that he is fully prepared to handle the pressure of England's current situation, despite Rassie Erasmus indicating that he is feeling the heat and might feel as if he has "a gun to his head."

Several former England legends, such as Clive Woodward and Will Carling, have criticized Borthwick following last Saturday's narrow loss to Australia, which marked the team's fourth consecutive defeat. While he still has the full backing of the Rugby Football Union, England risks dropping to eighth place in the world rankings if they can't turn things around against Erasmus’s Springboks this Saturday. This will be the first encounter between the two teams since last year's heated World Cup semi-final.

Borthwick has adjusted his lineup with four new changes for the match against South Africa. He is bringing back Freddie Steward as the full-back, highlighting his exceptional skills in the air, and reinstating scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet. He acknowledged that World Rugby’s recent focus on limiting “escorting” has resulted in more kicking and increased scrums, emphasizing that they don’t want to transform rugby union into a game like Aussie rules.

After announcing his lineup with 12 alterations from the team that dominated Scotland last week, Erasmus pointed out that head coaches in Borthwick's situation often experience significant stress. "Losing two matches, regardless of whether it’s by a single point or a last-minute try, definitely raises the pressure. I’ve experienced it myself and know how quickly it can weigh on you. Right now, Steve is feeling that pressure," Erasmus stated. "And it really hinges on your CEO – they can create an environment where it feels like there’s a gun to your head."

When asked if he feels any pressure, Borthwick confidently stated that he is capable of dealing with the criticism aimed at England.

“I’m doing my utmost to coach this team effectively," Borthwick stated. "When you're coaching England, there are always external pressures. One of my strengths is my ability to concentrate and keep things organized in my mind. My main focus is on coaching this team, which I truly enjoy. I'm committed to these players, and we know we need to improve our performance. It’s frustrating not to have secured wins yet, but we're determined to change that. This weekend presents us with an exciting challenge."

Steward's return to the full-back position means that George Furbank will no longer be part of the match-day squad. Borthwick has mentioned this as a "significant shift" in the game, prompted by World Rugby’s efforts to curb the actions of defensive players who obstruct attacking runners.

“Freddie’s training has been outstanding,” Borthwick noted. “His mindset has been excellent, and South Africa is the team that throws the most contestable kicks globally. They clearly stand out from the rest, given how often they utilize contestable kicks. This aspect of kicking will make players who excel in that area crucial for this match.”

Van Poortvliet replaces Ben Spencer, who is no longer part of the 23-man squad. Sam Underhill and Ollie Sleightholme have been chosen to fill the roles of openside flanker and left wing, stepping in for the injured Tom Curry and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Curry's head injury means he won't get to play against South Africa again, following the controversy from last year's semifinal, where he claimed that Bongi Mbonambi made a racial remark towards him. Borthwick anticipates a similarly intense match. He stated, “I can only see the game going in that direction now - there will be more kicks and more contestable kicks due to the implications of the rules. When playing against South Africa, it's essential to have a solid scrum, effectively manage their maul, and defend physically.”

"That’s fundamental to the South African style of play. We need to address these aspects, and I believe the team has done an excellent job of getting ready for this weekend. This group of players is highly motivated to confront South Africa head-on. In the semi-final, we missed some opportunities in a closely contested match."