Six Nations 2026: Can England’s improving attack give them the title?

Think back to three years ago, when England were the worst attacking team in the top tier of Test rugby.

Steve Borthwick was appointed head coach just nine months ago to prepare for the Rugby World Cup and chose a safe approach: kick high, long and often, and limit mistakes.

This reductive strategy has almost guaranteed successive World Cup finals, but has often proven sleep-inducing for fans.

The restrictions imposed on England have been such that the Italian team that starts 2023 is ranked 12th in the world – lower than Samoa – still scoring more tries during the calendar year, despite playing three fewer matches.

England didn’t leave the handbrake on so much as lost the keys to a locked car in the garage.

The following year, the transition team lost seven of 12 Tests while continuing to attack.

Average standards. Transient momentum.

But not anymore.

In 2025, England’s attack has developed into something full of verve and variety. Only back-to-back world champions South Africa have scored more tries, while Opta data shows a dramatic improvement over every other country at the top level.

England’s newfound ambition has been fueled by a year of growth – winning a series in Argentina with a depleted squad and beating New Zealand for only the ninth time in a 120-year competition as part of an unbeaten autumn.

England’s current winning run of 11 is their longest in nearly a decade.