Reactions are mixed to Leicester's latest coaching reshuffle
The long awaited announcement of Steve Borthwick’s arrival of Leicester Tigers – a story first broken by RugbyPass last October – was finally made on Tuesday.
The former England captain is set to finish his time working under Eddie Jones, currently as a skills coach, before heading to Welford Road.
The Rugby Football Union announced earlier this week that he will move on at the end of the season, which means he will be ready for next campaign with Leicester.
Whether working for Jones with Japan or England, Borthwick has had a lot of success, largely as a forwards coach, helping build one of the most formidable packs in the world with England.
Forward supremacy has historically been the Tigers’ bread and butter, but they have perhaps lost their way in recent years. Borthwick, though, is being tipped by Tigers supporters to bring back that edge.
Expect to see them fly up the league https://t.co/owikZwp8Cy
— mikey savage (@mikey_sav123) January 21, 2020
Amazing news!! A huge welcome to Steve, and an exciting future for Tigers fans. https://t.co/ctHYzSvgxI
— Jonathan Palfreyman (@joepalfre) January 21, 2020
The fightback starts now https://t.co/Xs5bNWa8th
— Peter Attenborough (@PeterAttenborou) January 21, 2020
https://twitter.com/DaveNorris07/status/1219675564094693379
The last couple of years have been rough for one of English rugby’s powerhouses, as Leicester narrowly avoided relegation last season after finishing eleventh in the Gallagher Premiership.
They would also theoretically be bottom of the table at the moment if it were not for Saracens’ automatic relegation.
The fact that relegation is no longer a possibility this season gives them the freedom to wait for Borthwick and it is believed that his pedigree will finally mark the beginning of a turnaround.
https://twitter.com/BlindsideJim/status/1219619413076381696?s=20
Well done #Tigers… like the look of this set up. First steps on way back to the top I hope 👍
— Ju P 💙 (@Schmoo1408) January 21, 2020
Meanwhile, the decision to move current head coach Geordan Murphy to the role of director of rugby has not gone down too well.
While the former Ireland international is a club legend, his coaching stint since taking over from Matt O’Connor in 2018 has not been particularly successful.
https://twitter.com/brakey7/status/1219556835927216129?s=20
I very much like Murphy as a bloke but he's been incredibly lucky with promotions!
— Dave Parry (@DaveyP82) January 21, 2020
Borthwick is a great appointment. What criteria did Murphy satisfy to get promoted? This smacks of an outsider being brought in with no autonomy as the old guard stifle new ideas and thinking. I hope it works but it is hardly a bold move. Has Cohen gone yet?
— Mark Fletcher #Sunak Out (@MarkFletch117) January 21, 2020
While some see this as a promotion for Murphy – and one that may not necessarily be warranted – his role will be different from Borthwick’s and he will remain a figure within the club who is aware of its identity going forward.
Nonetheless, it is the former lock that is given the responsibility of resurrecting the Tigers to their former glory, and he looks suited to do just that.
WATCH: Andy Goode and Brendan Venter didn’t hold back on this week’s The Rugby Pod as they discussed Saracens and the salary cap scandal
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments