Nations Championship: Where are England now under Steve Borthwick?

“You’re like the negative committee, so it’s nice to come and talk to you again.”

Borthwick, often measured by the media, had little bite in Argentina.

Bautista Delgui’s shot in the 83rd minute controversially went wide as the hosts tried to equalize.

Before the match, Borthwick was asked about the continuity of his selection: “It’s four new trophies in the last two weeks – how many do you want?”

England have faced criticism in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup, with five defeats in six games and their first loss to Fiji.

Kerr played in the 2023 World Cup and remembers Borthwick creating a narrative of “it’s you in the team against the world”.

“We did this for the 2023 World Cup, and it worked,” Kerr added.

“Internally, what Steve’s really good at is encouraging the team by saying, ‘Look, even the media is looking for us now, let’s go and prove them all wrong.’

“I wouldn’t mind if he clapped back a little bit. At least he showed a little bit of fight because what people have said about Steve in the past can’t get into him and he’s almost a bit of a robot.”

Borthwick have relied heavily on a group of critically experienced players to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Since then, that team has been rejuvenated with impressive young talent — like Henry Pollock, Freeman and Faye-Waboso — and continues to build depth.

Captain Maro Itoje returns from a rare summer vacation refreshed. And his team now has a 12-game winning streak and a five-game losing streak.

A thrilling performance on the never-before-seen Summer Tour played a role in why. The end of the Six Nations against France in Paris Not repeated.

But with two points in the Northern Hemisphere National Championship division, Borthwick’s side are in a strong position to host Australia, Japan and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in November.

With nine games in England’s diary ahead of the World Cup warm-ups, the transfer window could now close.