Stuart Barnes calls on Maro Itoje to lead a ‘player revolution’ against Steve Borthwick to save England’s ‘team of losers’

Colin Newboult
Maro Itoje looks on during Six Nations defeat to Ireland in 2025 and England head coach Steve Borthwick (inset).

Maro Itoje looks on during Six Nations defeat to Ireland in 2025 and England head coach Steve Borthwick.

Stuart Barnes is adamant that England’s fix is purely an emotional one and has urged their new captain Maro Itoje to lead the way ahead of their clash with France.

On Saturday, the Red Rose once again went down to another frustrating defeat as they succumbed 27-22 to Ireland in the opening round of the Six Nations.

Close losses have been a theme for England over the past 12 months and Barnes has become frustrated at Steve Borthwick’s data-driven approach.

The former England fly-half insists that a new way of looking at their performances is required and he wants Itoje to provide that voice ahead of the huge encounter with France this weekend.

Borthwick’s reliance on data

“It isn’t an insult to call England ‘losers’, it is a fact. And while the England head coach, Steve Borthwick, may be one of the technically best lineout coaches on the planet, what England need is an emotional fix and not more data, churned endlessly by analysts,” he wrote in his Times column.

Barnes then added: “What is urgently required, right now, is someone to lift the players from the facts of their failure, to be roused from the daydreams of the perfect plan.

“Of course, Itoje’s oratorical skills will only take him so far if he truly — deep down — believes England can beat… yes, beat… France.

“Itoje has a massive week ahead of him. If ever I have looked at a team in need of player power, tantamount to a player revolution, now is the time. And England have a leader with just the one game as international skipper under his belt.

“He may be Borthwick’s choice for the role but the best way he can repay the head coach’s faith is by substituting a diet of raw data in the build-up for emotion.

“It is feel, passion and a capacity to accelerate the speed of their game that England must summon if they are to win. They have to believe it and the voice has to be fresher, one not associated with losing strategy.”

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Itoje may only be one game into his stint as captain but Barnes appears to suggest that this week could well be career-defining for the England star.

“It will be one of the toughest tasks of the lock forward’s career, not simply to win but to create an environment in which England actually believe this is possible. He is experienced, articulate and an excellent international. Never has he needed such attributes,” he wrote.

Replacing Jamie George

The 30-year-old replaced Jamie George as skipper ahead of the 2025 Six Nations and Barnes felt that that he had a “solid” first outing.

However, the former England playmaker wants his influence to be on display away from the pitch this week in order to inspire his team-mates heading into the France match.

“England fans loved to talk about Richard Hill and his ton of unseen work. But at least it was happening on the field. This week much of the work has to take place away from Twickenham, deep in the heads of this team of losers,” Barnes wrote.

“In Dublin, Itoje made a solid start as skipper. Defensively he set a decent example. His tackle count was high and some of them were important to the point of being try-savers.

“His men can follow a tight-five forward with the work rate and capacity to go the full 80. Unlike [Jamie] George, he is expected to stay until the bitter end.”

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