Only a couple of weeks out from the start of their Rugby World Cup campaign, it's fair to say that England could hardly be in a more dire position heading into the tournament.
Their performances over the last couple of years have been steadily declining, something that hasn't changed in the aftermath of Eddie Jones' departure as head coach. It was hoped that Steve Borthwick would steady the ship after his appointment, but their performance have continued to deteriorate under his tutelage.
They were absolutely shocking during the loss to Ireland in Dublin ten days ago, then going on to lose to Fiji for the first time in their history at the weekend. That result has led to some questioning Borthwick's future with the team, despite the fact that he had only been in charge for nine games.
Clive Woodward says Steve Borthwick must make England changes
While England are on the soft side of the draw at the World Cup, their current form means that progression in the tournament is far from a guarantee. They face Argentina in their first game, a fixture that could a long way towards deciding how they fare in the weeks that follow.
If they are to avoid a disastrous showing in France, Steve Borthwick will perhaps consider making some late changes to his approach.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Clive Woodward named two things the head coach must address over the coming days.
Borthwick needs to show his presence in public and prove why he is the right man for the job...
The first thing Borthwick must do is look in the mirror and really analyse the game plan. England are playing far too conservatively. They kick way too often and do so even when they are in the attacking third of the pitch. Unfortunately, it's boring to watch.
The result has not only been poor performances and results, but England fans voting with their feet. We saw that in the Fiji game with the top tier at Twickenham unsold. I never thought I would see that...
This leads to the second point Borthwick must address. He must — as a means of motivation — privately question the performance levels of his players...
Only the players will know if they're disillusioned with Borthwick's game plan. It is a tricky position to be in because as a head coach, you can't be dictated to by the players.
But at the same time, empowering your squad — or at the very least consulting its senior figures — is an important part of modern coaching.
Borthwick had success with his style of play at Leicester. But it is not working at international level.
England will hope that a victory over Argentina in the opening game will propel them on in the tournament, although there is also a chance that a loss in that one could see things unravel rather quickly.
Steve Borthwick will be hoping to avoid the latter. If they can't his future with the team could quickly come under question.
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