Borthwick in spotlight as England face Australia amid Wallabies pay row

Detailed summary

LONDON: England host Australia in the Nations Championship at Twickenham on Sunday in one of the most attractive clashes of the first round of November ...

LONDON: England host Australia in the Nations Championship at Twickenham on Sunday in one of the most attractive clashes of the first round of November fixtures. AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the meeting between the old rivals.

Coaches often receive votes of confidence from their employers, but the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has gone further with England coach Steve Borthwick. This week, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney gave Borthwick his unequivocal backing to lead England at the 2027 World Cup.

Two months ago, the RFU extended Borthwick’s contract until after the 2028 Six Nations. That came even though England lost four of five matches at this year’s Six Nations, the first time they had done so in the tournament’s history.

Kurtley Beale’s long wait to return to Test rugby goes on after the veteran back was left out of Australia’s match-day 23.

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