Steve Borthwick sheds light on 'challenging' chat with Jamie George

Steve Borthwick has insisted that Maro Itoje can lead England into the next Rugby World Cup after appointing him captain for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations at the expense of Jamie George. Borthwick met Itoje on Monday to ask the Saracens lock to take charge of the team and, according to the head coach, was met with a smile that “could have lit up the whole of England”.

George was demoted to vice-captain at a time when his position as first-choice hooker is coming under pressure from Luke Cowan-Dickie and Theo Dan. It follows a 2024 which produced only five wins in 12 Tests. It means that Itoje, four years George’s junior at 30, will be England skipper for the first time, although he deputised for George throughout the past 12 months when his Saracens teammate was substituted.

Borthwick has told England’s talisman that he has the opportunity to make the role his own until the 2027 World Cup in Australia. “As we sit here right now yes, I don’t see why not. Maro will do everything he can to help serve this team and be the best leader he can,” Borthwick said.

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“Maro thinks really well under pressure. He stays calm under pressure. The way he goes about his work every single day is first class. When I watch the way the players look at him, I go, ‘This is a guy that players will get behind and really follow’.

“I have told Maro I want him to captain in his way. Everyone sees the commitment with which he plays. When you have somebody that fights that hard for the shirt and for his team, it’s somebody everyone can relate to. He is a truly world-class player who we all have incredible respect for, so I am glad he’s going to be the captain.”

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While Itoje was elated by the news, Borthwick faced a difficult conversation with George. “It was challenging. I have known Jamie for a very long time. He is a wonderful player and for such a long time he has been central to this England team and an incredible influence on English rugby. He was clearly disappointed but at the same point in time he is also always putting the team first.”

Borthwick confirmed that wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and flanker Sam Underhill will be unavailable for the entire Six Nations after undergoing surgery for shoulder and ankle injuries respectively. Full-back George Furbank could be back towards the end of the tournament as he recovers from a broken arm and there was clarity over Marcus Smith’s role with Borthwick stating he is viewed as a fly-half who can operate at 15 when needed.

A standout out name in the 36-man squad picked for the Six Nations is Tom Willis, the rampaging Saracens number eight who has been pressing hard for his recall through his work in defence and ability to make hard yards. “Tom plays with incredible hunger and he has always been a formidable ball carrier and a tough tackling player,” Borthwick said.