England head coach Steve Borthwick says the long-awaited march toward the Rugby World Cup 2027 has genuinely begun after the official draw placed his squad beside Wales, Tonga, and Zimbabwe in Pool F for the newly expanded 24-team tournament in Australia. With the fixtures now confirmed, Borthwick believes the pace of England’s multi-year preparation will increase dramatically.
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It feels like the journey to the World Cup has started now; it’s definitely going to accelerate rapidly from here, he stated. There’s plenty of discussion and excitement surrounding it. England’s renewed meeting with Wales quickly resurfaced memories of the dramatic 2015 pool-stage upset at Twickenham, a pivotal defeat that contributed to England’s unprecedented early elimination as a host nation.
Though Borthwick purposely avoided revisiting that painful chapter, the head coach agreed that the test Steve Tandy’s side will present. As with every England–Wales match, it was always packed with emotion and pride, Borthwick said. I’m sure this contest will be similar. Captain Maro Itoje welcomed the clarity the draw now provides, stressing that certainty helps shape England’s tactical direction.
It’s great to finally know our opponents; it’s no longer speculation or a guessing exercise, Itoje remarked. World Cups are consistently thrilling. Wales succeeded in 2015, but hopefully, circumstances will be different this time. For Itoje, England’s evolution over the next two years will rely heavily on seizing defining opportunities.
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England Braces for Pool F Challenges Ahead of Rugby World Cup
It comes down to crucial moments and how precise we remain. By Rugby World Cup 2027, when those situations arise, we want to be completely prepared to respond. Borthwick echoed that sentiment, adding that England must refine their tactical identity as it progresses through warm-up cycles, development camps, and international fixtures leading into the global event.

He reiterated that the enlarged tournament, featuring additional nations such as Tonga and Zimbabwe in their pool, introduces fresh challenges England must account for. Looking ahead, Borthwick expects Tonga to bring physicality and unpredictability, pointing to their growing depth and competitiveness.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will enter its first modern-era World Cup with significant energy and ambition, making it a potential disruptor in Pool F. Every team arriving at a Rugby World Cup has earned the right to be there, Borthwick stressed. Respect is essential, and preparation must reflect that. The draw also establishes a potential knockout pathway that could shape England’s entire campaign.
Should England top their pool, they would likely face a runner-up from a neighboring group, presenting a potentially smoother route toward the quarter-finals. Conversely, finishing second would heighten the degree of difficulty early in the knockout rounds, placing even greater value on their highly anticipated pool confrontation with Wales.
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Rugby World Cup Final: England Focuses on Long-Term Preparation Ahead of 2027 World Cup
Itoje noted that the expanding World Cup format intensifies the strategic landscape, as additional teams increase the variety of playing styles and tactical approaches. The growth of the competition means we have to adapt quickly. We’ll encounter teams with different systems, rhythms, and strengths. That diversity makes preparation even more important.
Beyond individual matches, England’s broader campaign will also hinge on long-term squad development. Over the next two seasons, Borthwick plans to integrate emerging talent, manage veteran workloads, and build a squad capable of sustaining performance through a demanding six-week competition, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Rugby World Cup Final.

In addition to player management, England will refine their physical conditioning programme, attack structures, defensive frameworks, and leadership groups. Borthwick believes these incremental layers will collectively determine England’s competitiveness when the tournament begins in Australia. Every detail matters at a World Cup, he said. Execution under pressure is what ultimately separates teams.
While the draw does not guarantee outcomes, it does provide a blueprint for England’s approach to the 2027 campaign. Training camps, tactical reviews, test windows, and high-performance programmes will now shift into a more targeted phase. Analysts will begin studying Wales’ evolving strategies, Tonga’s dangerous running game, and Zimbabwe’s rising strengths well ahead of the tournament.
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