Six Nations 2026: Steve Borthwick – numbers behind England coach’s nightmare run

A lack of confidence. Too much kicking. The weight of the shirt.

All have been reasonably used to explain England’s sudden decline, but the simple fact remains that Test rugby is an unforgiving arena, especially in a highly competitive Six Nations campaign.

It gets even harder when you have fewer players on the pitch than the opposition.

Approaching the hour mark at the Stadio Olimpico, England led by eight points against an Italy team with 14 men.

But 15 minutes later, England were five points behind on the scoreboard with two men of their own in the sin-bin.

The yellow cards shown to Sam Underhill and captain Maro Itoje “hurt us badly”, Borthwick said, the latest examples of indiscipline which have undermined England’s tournament.

England have received at least two cards in every match so far. They have played 108 minutes – the equivalent of more than five quarters of rugby – with 14 men.

Discipline has been particularly poor at the breakdown, with exactly half of the 44 penalties England have conceded coming in this area.

Another yellow card against France this weekend would tie the record tally of cards across the entirety of the men’s Six Nations era.