England vs Australia: Steve Borthwick’s side aim for a strong Autumn Nations Championship

England have yet to establish themselves as genuine Rugby World Cup contenders for the 2027 tournament in Australia.

New talent has injected energy into Steve Borthwick’s side, and wins over Ireland in 2024 and France this year have offered glimpses of England’s ability to compete in two years’ time.

But without a Six Nations title since 2020, or a notable win over one of the Southern Hemisphere’s elite since 2022, they remain outside rugby’s top table – sitting fifth in the world rankings.

This fall’s matches against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina represent an opportunity to change that narrative.

Being on the fringes of the best in the world is not a bad place to be two years away from the big event, but the time to make a move is now.

“The ceiling for this team is sky high,” England captain Maro Itoje told the BBC. He added: “When you represent England you want to win trophies, the Six Nations Cup and the World Cup.

“That is definitely the ambition of this team. We have to work together, get along and build the mentality.

“To reach those goals we have to win games like the ones we have ahead of us [against Australia]. That’s why this weekend is so important.”

Since a disappointing Six Nations defeat to Ireland this year, England have gone on a seven-match winning streak.

An impressive victory in Argentina, while the British and Irish Lions were away in Australia, showcased some of the best rugby under Borthwick.

Late lapses cost England the game last autumn, when both the Wallabies – now a much stronger team – and the All Blacks snatched victories in the closing stages.

Borthwick responded by naming six Lions – including Ellis Genge and Tom Curry – on the bench for the match against Australia, hoping to keep the intensity going in the match.

Things are going in the right direction: depth is increasing, performance is improving – but for us to truly believe that, England must now start beating the best on a consistent basis.

“It’s about how hard we are willing to work to solve problems when the game gets a little tough,” Itoje added.

“When we face adversity, it’s about how we react and support each other.

“They are important characteristics and traits to be a dominant team.”