The conclusion of the 2025 Autumn Nations Series has precipitated a unique crisis of perspective within the international rugby landscape. The raw data of the window presents a binary set of outcomes that, upon closer inspection, fails to capture the turbulent reality of the performances on the pitch. We have witnessed a month where the traditional metrics of success—wins and losses—have arguably diverged from the underlying capabilities of the teams involved, creating a volatile environment for head coaches.
The central paradox of this series, and the primary focus of this pocast, is the contrasting fortunes of England’s Steve Borthwick and Scotland’s Gregor Townsend. Borthwick, having secured a "clean sweep" of four victories and extending his side’s winning run to eleven Test matches, finds himself lauded in the record books yet viewed with lingering suspicion regarding the sustainability of his team's "brutish" pragmatism.1 Conversely, Gregor Townsend, whose Scottish side produced moments of sublime attacking rugby that eclipsed England’s aesthetic output, is currently facing the most severe scrutiny of his eight-year tenure.
This divergence stems from a fundamental clash between capability and expectation. Scotland "nearly" beat New Zealand, recovering from a 17-point deficit to level the game, and led Argentina 21-0 before collapsing. England, by contrast, were "nearly" beaten by the same Pumas side, surviving a late onslaught that saw Argentina camp on their try line, yet they emerged victorious. One manager is branded a winner for surviving by the skin of his teeth; the other is slated as a loser for failing to arrest a slide despite periods of dominance.
Utilizing the latest insights from major rugby podcasts—including The Rugby Pod, Rugby Union Weekly, and The Good, The Bad & The Rugby—alongside extensive match data and press reaction, this report conducts a forensic audit of the managerial winners and losers. It explores the psychological fragility of Scottish rugby, the ruthless efficiency of South Africa’s evolved "Bomb Squad," the existential crisis engulfing Steve Tandy’s Wales, and the contentious "luck" that seems to follow Steve Borthwick.
