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RFU should pay up if Borthwick really wants Nick Evans – Andy Goode
If Steve Borthwick really wants Nick Evans as part of his England coaching team for the Rugby World Cup, he should be there but the RFU needs to pay up. The loan for the Guinness Six Nations was one thing but another similar agreement for the lengthy period spanning the World Cup and all the preparations for it would have been taking the biscuit.
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Harlequins will have been financially compensated and would be again but another cobbled-together temporary situation shouldn’t be necessary. It isn’t ideal for anyone and a quick glance at Quins’ results since January shows how damaging it has been for them.
They picked up just three points from a possible 30 in the Gallagher Premiership between him being announced as the England attack coach and last weekend’s win over Newcastle.
Perhaps the transition has been managed better at Leicester Tigers, who did suffer badly in the immediate aftermath of Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield’s departures but have since bounced back with six straight league wins since the start of February.
Richard Wigglesworth is joining Borthwick’s England coaching team at the end of this season but he was not released for the Six Nations. Instead, he held the fort impressively at Tigers and they are looking good for the playoffs.
I’m sure Harlequins will recognise that they should have managed Evans’ absence better but they shouldn’t have to endure the same short-term upheaval again and be searching for the best way to just plug the gap until he comes back and gets them ticking over again.
If Borthwick wants Evans, the RFU should pay him out of his contract and get him on board properly. That way Harlequins have certainty and can plan accordingly but it is also in Evans’ best interests and the England players will have greater clarity over the plan moving forwards.
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It’s a tricky job building your coaching team on the hoof while competing in a Six Nations and preparing for a World Cup but we could do with a bit more clarity generally in that area as coaches are signing up but no job titles are being disclosed.
We know Aled Walters will be head of strength and conditioning and Ian Peel is rumoured to be coming in from Saracens as a forwards specialist – but the rest is less clear.
Wigglesworth worked as attack coach under Borthwick at Leicester but his remit with England hasn’t been confirmed and maybe the head coach had other plans for him if he is trying to get Evans involved in the World Cup… and then there is Felix Jones.
He isn’t arriving from the Springboks until after the World Cup but is currently working as their attack coach. He was a defence consultant when he moved there initially but Sinfield has that role locked down with England, so it’s a fair assumption that he will be involved with the attack.
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Clearly, getting the coaching talent signed up is a good thing but how they all slot together isn’t immediately obvious and Evans deserves to be more than just a stop-gap.
He needs to be trusted and given the reins fully too. The former All Blacks fly-half has done wonders with Quins’ attack in recent years but we didn’t see much of the speed and style they are renowned for with England in this year’s Six Nations.
A bit more pragmatism is probably required at international level and it’s tough to hit the ground running when you are appointed at such short notice, but it’s fair to question whether he was constrained by a bit too much rigidity in the structures put in place by Borthwick.
Evidently, Evans impressed or he wouldn’t be getting approached to continue on at the World Cup but his philosophy is centred around the delivery of lightning quick ball (LQB) to create holes and space out wide.
There isn’t much point in appointing him if you aren’t going to give him the scope to implement that or if the game plan is heading in a different direction.
England had more territory than any other team in this year’s Six Nations but only Italy and Wales scored fewer tries – and as many as eight of the 13 tries they did score started with a scrum or a lineout.
Add to that, their average ruck speed of 3.77 seconds was the slowest in the tournament and they made the fewest linebreaks but kicked more in play than anyone else and it didn’t have the numbers or feel of an Evans attack.
I thought he was a great appointment in January – and I still do – but England shouldn’t be trying to get him on the cheap and destabilising his club in the process. The RFU should pay him out of his contract and allow him to fully focus straight away on the job of finally getting England’s attack to click at the World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
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