England's rugby journey through the Nations Championship has been a rollercoaster ride, with a mix of ups and downs that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. After a disastrous Six Nations, the team was under immense pressure to turn things around. The bar was set low, and the goal was simple: win a rugby match again. Fortunately, Steve Borthwick's side delivered, ending the season with two wins and restoring some confidence. But was it enough to silence the critics and prove that England is on the right track? Let's take a closer look at the players' performances and see what the future holds for this team.
A Mixed Bag of Performances
England's campaign was far from flawless, with discipline remaining a recurring issue. Four second-half yellow cards in Argentina threatened to derail them once again, and questions remain over their ability to cope with the world's elite sides after falling well short against the Springboks. However, there were also glimmers of progress. England rediscovered an attacking edge, looked far more cohesive with the ball in hand, and several key combinations began to click.
Back Three
The back three was a bright spot for England, with Marcus Smith shining in the full-back role. His versatility and adaptability were invaluable, and he finished with two tries, looking increasingly dangerous in broken play. Tommy Freeman, playing on the wing, also had a strong performance, with his aerials and moves for a big man constantly linking with Fin Smith. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was England's biggest attacking weapon, breaking tackles and producing match-winning scores.
Centres
Henry Slade was a huge reminder of what England had missed, orchestrating the attack against Fiji and producing a classy display in Argentina. Seb Atkinson also continued to grow into Test rugby, doing the unseen work and acting as the link man in England's improving attack. Benhard Janse van Rensburg made an immediate impression off the bench against Fiji with a debut try and smart distribution.
Fly-half
Fin Smith was trusted at fly-half again for England for the first time since the 2025 Six Nations. He controlled games superbly against Fiji and Argentina, with his kicking game and decision-making giving England genuine attacking shape. His understanding with Freeman is rapidly becoming England's most dangerous weapon.
Scrum-halves
Jack van Poortvliet improved significantly after a difficult afternoon against South Africa, playing with greater tempo against Fiji. However, his yellow card almost proved costly against Argentina. Alex Mitchell barely had the opportunity to contribute after another hamstring injury, but did feature from the bench against the Springboks.
Props
Ellis Genge set the tone physically throughout the series, carrying relentlessly and continuing to lead from the front. Joe Heyes was dominant defensively and increasingly destructive at scrum time, while Asher Opoku-Fordjour continued to show his enormous potential. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw ahead of the Pumas showdown.
Hookers
Jamie George was typically dependable at the lineout but his impact in the loose is starting to dwindle at the age of 35. Luke Cowan-Dickie was steady without making a significant impact.
Second-row
George Martin brought the carrying power they lacked during the Six Nations and grew stronger as the series progressed. Physical, confrontational, and consistently effective, he was a bright spot for England. Alex Coles also had an excellent campaign, working tirelessly and producing an astonishing 35 tackles against Argentina.
Back-row
Ben Earl was a contender for England's player of the series, leading the carries in every match and tackling relentlessly. Ollie Chessum was increasingly influential, while Guy Pepper responded brilliantly after a disappointing yellow-card cameo in Johannesburg. Henry Pollock, despite starting no matches, made a significant impact with his opportunities, showcasing his extraordinary athleticism and breakdown threat.
A Glimmer of Hope
While England still has a long way to go to match the benchmark set by South Africa, ending the season with two wins has at least restored some confidence. The team has shown signs of progress, with key combinations clicking and an attacking edge being rediscovered. However, questions remain over their ability to cope with the world's elite sides, and discipline remains a recurring issue.
In my opinion, England's future looks bright, but they must continue to build on their recent successes and address their discipline issues. The team has the talent and potential to compete at the highest level, but it will take time and patience to see them reach their full potential. The Nations Championship has given fans a glimmer of hope, but the real test will come in the autumn. Only time will tell if England can silence the critics and prove that they are on the right track.
