Six Nations 2026: Steve Borthwick – Four big call-ups that could revitalize England

What is more difficult than bringing in or dropping any player is replacing the entire plan.

“Lee is widely regarded as one of the best attacking coaches in the country,” Borthwick said in September when he welcomed attacking coach Lee Blackett on board full-time.

“His teams play fast, exciting rugby and are constantly looking to score tries.”

Blackett impressed with a temporary spell on Argentina’s summer tour. England scored seven tries in their two Test victories over the Pumas.

In his final season with Bath, he coaxed 96 regular-season tries from the eventual Premier League champions – the most scored by any team in the three seasons since the league contract with Wasps losing to Worcester and London Irish.

Blackett was also inheriting an English side that enjoyed an impressive 2025 Six Nations campaign, racking up 25 tries – the most they have managed in almost a quarter of a century – under the stewardship of Richard Wigglesworth.

However, somewhere along the line, England lost its cutting-edge status.

They have 14 tries and a host of missed chances and platforms to show for this season’s competition.

Again against Italy – as in their defeats to Scotland and Ireland – they averaged less than two points per 22 metres. This number is well below par for any team with serious title aspirations.

The players have insisted they are happy with the tactics they are being asked to play, but Blackett and Wigglesworth represent an excellent source of confidence for Borthwick to consult if he decides to reshape the game plan.

While air-to-ground competition and risk-minimizing tactics have been a feature of Borthwick’s teams since he took charge of Leicester in his first coaching role in 2020, he has shown resilience in defence.

The hyper-aggressive offense implemented by former defense coach Felix Jones has been toned down in 2024, with consistency now more important than line speed.

A shift in attack, which brings in England’s undoubted talent and makes them less reliant on the bounce of the ball, could be timely.