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England go into the Quilter Autumn Series with two simple aims – to round off an impressive 2025 with four more wins and a sign that they can vary their style.
They face Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina at Allianz Stadium on consecutive weekends.
Head coach Steve Borthwick may have missed out on the Guinness Men’s Six Nations title, but they have enjoyed a good 2025, with home wins over Scotland and France backed up with their two-test victory in Argentina over the summer, while 13 players were away with the Lions.
Here’s the things ATR thinks England need to get right to demonstrate that progress is being continued.
Keep Going To The End
A year ago, England opened against New Zealand and then followed up against Australia.
In the former they led at the 75 minute mark, before Mark Tele'a’s try and Damian McKenzie’s conversion proved the difference in a 24-22 win. A week later, Maro Itoje’s 77th minute try appeared to give England victory, but this time it was Max Jorgensen and Ben Donaldson who scored the late seven points that made the difference in a 42-37 defeat.
Both tries came down the wing and required a precision kick. Talea’s came after Will Jordan slipped the wing clear, and he powered through George Ford and Henry Slade’s tackles. Jorgensen’s arrived after England failed to collect the restart and Australia pounced.
They showed that heads were focused at a crucial point and it cost them. Any repeats will need some serious introspection.
Claim A Major Scalp
New Zealand may not be the force they were, nor hold the aura they used to, they are still the second best team in the world, and one that England have lost to three times since the World Cup.
A victory over them would be a significant achievement for Borthwick and give him credit in the bank. Moreover, it would swell confidence in the team and get the public firmly behind them.
It is two years until the World Cup, and it is time that this team show that the shadow of the All Blacks no longer hangs over them.
Maintain A Happy Camp
There would have been a few England players who endured a frustrating Lions tour.
Fin Smith appeared to be second choice flyhalf to Finn Russell at one stage but was edged out after Owen Farrell’s late call up and saw no test action. Marcus Smith barely featured in his favoured flyhalf position and seen as a utility player also able to cover fullback.
Yet, both are now behind George Ford, who didn’t even make the Lions tour. There will be equally contentious decisions on the wing where Adam Radwan might wonder what four tries in five matches gets you after his omission, and back row where Tom Curry is included despite not featuring this season.
There are good reasons for and against these calls, but Borthwick needs to keep those affected informed why, ensure that everyone pulls in the same direction, and give players chances when he can.
Forget Farrell
The Saracens returnee will continue to stalk Borthwick’s press conferences and team meetings, but there is one way to quieten the chat, get winning and stay winning.
Borthwick needs the midfield to fire, if it doesn’t the noise around the 33-year-old and the ‘will he, won’t he come back’ debate, will continue to grow. He can’t be seen as the emergency response at a time when Fraser Dingwell, George Ford, and Fin Smith need and deserve time to put their mark on the team.
If the call does go into north London this autumn, then something will have gone seriously wrong for England.