England fly-half Fin Smith has raised concerns that a disappointing autumn Test series could spark serious questions about the direction of the national team. The 24-year-old, reflecting on a challenging year that included a tough Six Nations campaign and a summer marked by heavy defeats, including a 45-21 loss to world champions South Africa and a 73-8 defeat by Fiji, said the upcoming matches will be a crucial test. "I am not going to sit here and say 'we are building' because that is what you will get every time," Smith told Rugby Union Weekly. "We will honestly find out in the autumn. If we have a pretty ropey autumn, on the back of building some momentum over the summer, I think we will need to have a pretty hard look at ourselves." England's autumn fixtures include three Tests against Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, followed by a play-off against a southern hemisphere team in the new Nations Championship. Smith expressed confidence in facing New Zealand, recalling a 33-19 win at Allianz Stadium last November, which was a standout result for head coach Steve Borthwick. However, the team's performance has dipped in 2026, with just three wins in eight Tests, including a 42-21 home loss to Ireland and a historic defeat by Italy. Smith, who has started the last five Tests to solidify his position as first-choice stand-off, says he is adapting to the demands of Test rugby and aligning with Borthwick's strategies. "I have been given a fair bit of licence to put my footprint on the attack and lead a lot of meetings about how I want us to play," he said, highlighting his growing influence within the team. Meanwhile, Northampton's director of rugby, Phil Dowson, has expressed ambitions to coach internationally, despite having no formal contact from the Rugby Football Union regarding such a role. Dowson, who has led Northampton to two Premiership titles and the 2025 Champions Cup final, said he is open to the opportunity but there is no set timeline. He previously prepared a developmental England XV for a match against the Barbarians in 2019 but has not been involved with the senior team since. Head coach Sam Vesty, who has experience coaching with England A and under Eddie Jones, has also signed a new contract with Northampton, continuing his dual role with the club and national team.