Itoje Defends Borthwick With Full Support Amidst England's Rugby Triumph Over Australia
England's rugby star, Maro Itoje, passionately defended coach Steve Borthwick following a significant victory over Australia.
Maro Itoje, the captain of the England national rugby team, expressed his unwavering support for head coach Steve Borthwick, highlighting a period of stability and unity within the squad despite recent challenges. This statement came on the heels of a notable triumph against Australia, where England secured a resounding victory, scoring seven tries and setting a new record for points scored against their southern hemisphere rivals 12.
The match, which saw England claim their third win in their last eight games, was marked by several standout performances and notable injuries. Among these, Henry Pollock, who stepped into the role of wing, shone brightly, contributing two tries to the team's impressive tally 1. However, the game also witnessed some setbacks, with both Manny Feyi-Waboso and Seb Atkinson being forced off the field due to injuries to their ankle and hip respectively 1.
Prior to the match, former England coaches offered words of encouragement to Borthwick, likely bolstering his confidence and that of the team as they prepared to face Australia 1. Following the victory, Les Kiss, the head coach of the Australian side, acknowledged the need for improvement in their upcoming match against Scotland, indicating that there is still room for growth in the international rugby landscape 1.
What we know
- Maro Itoje expressed full support for Steve Borthwick as the coach 12
- England scored seven tries during the match against Australia 1
- The match marked a record number of points scored by England against Australia 1
- Maro Itoje is the captain of the England national rugby team 1
- Steve Borthwick is the head coach of the England national rugby team 1
- England's victory over Australia was their third win in their last eight games 1
- Former England coaches provided encouragement to Steve Borthwick before the match 1
- Manny Feyi-Waboso left the match due to an injured ankle after 40 minutes 1
- Seb Atkinson sustained a hip injury during the match 1
- Henry Pollock played as a makeshift wing and scored two tries 1
- Les Kiss acknowledged the need for improvement in the next match against Scotland 1
Trust Score report
Likely accurate — probability of truth 70%, weighted across 13 claims from 2 independent outlets.
- confirmed Maro Itoje expressed full support for Steve Borthwick as the coach. (86%)
- likely England scored seven tries during the match against Australia. (72%)
- likely The match marked a record number of points scored by England against Australia. (72%)
- unverified England won a match against Australia with a score of 45-22 at Allianz Stadium on Sunday. (51%)
- unverified The match took place at Twickenham. (49%)
- likely Maro Itoje is the captain of the England national rugby team. (72%)
- likely Steve Borthwick is the head coach of the England national rugby team. (72%)
- likely England's victory over Australia was their third win in their last eight games. (72%)
- likely Former England coaches provided encouragement to Steve Borthwick before the match. (72%)
- likely Manny Feyi-Waboso, an Exeter wing, left the match due to an injured ankle after 40 minutes. (72%)
- likely Seb Atkinson, the center, sustained a hip injury during the match. (72%)
- likely Henry Pollock played as a makeshift wing and scored two tries. (72%)
- likely Les Kiss, the Wallabies head coach, acknowledged the need for improvement in their next match against Scotland. (72%)
Sources
- The Guardian Sport — ‘Lucky to have him’: Maro Itoje backs Borthwick after England triumph
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/nov/08/maro-itoje-steve-borthwick-england-australia-nations-championship-rugby-union - Sky Sports — 'We have full support in Steve' - Itoje gives a passionate defence of Borthwick
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13609946/england-vs-australia-maro-itoje-gives-a-passionate-defence-of-steve-borthwick