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Steve Borthwick's revised England role leaves fans confused
Eddie Jones has announced his new-look coaching team ahead of the Six Nations, but it is a returning face that is raising some questions.
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The Australian has opted to retain John Mitchell as defence coach after their impressive World Cup, while England sevens coach Simon Amor replaces Scott Wisemantel as attack coach after he joined the Wallabies.
Elsewhere, Steve Borthwick has moved from his role as forwards coach to become a skills coach, making way for Matt Proudfoot.
The former Scotland international is fresh from guiding the Springboks to World Cup glory as forwards coach, orchestrating the demolition of England’s pack in the final.
This is a major coup and Jones will be hoping that he will be able to help England’s pack become as dominant as South Africa’s.
(Continue reading below…)
It is Borthwick’s new position, though, that is raising some questions as there had been months of speculation following the RWC regarding his future.
Many expected the former England captain to team up with the struggling Leicester Tigers as forwards coach in the hope of turning their season around.
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Why not just announce that Borthwick will be departing after the 6 Nations finishes ?????
— Adam Copperwheat (@A_Cops2) January 13, 2020
Isnt it best if Borthwick just leaves now? I'm biased as a Tigers fan but surely he's just getting in the way if he stick around.
— Andy Smith (@busypedro22) January 13, 2020
So the RFU aren't using him as a forwards coach, but equally not letting him go. pic.twitter.com/ouTMMlqHyV
— Richard Burnett (@RBurnett348) January 13, 2020
While it is still expected he will join the Tigers after the Six Nations, some people are wondering why he does not move now as he is no longer England’s forwards coach.
However, after such a long time under Jones, having worked alongside him with Japan, keeping Borthwick in the coaching team may allow a smoother transition under Proudfoot.
Nonetheless, it still seems to be a perplexing position for someone that is in demand elsewhere.
Steve Borthwick to skills coach?
— Agenda Bender (@HughMunculus) January 13, 2020
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Eddie – can we have Steve Borthwick up at Oval Park now on a part-time basis, please?
— Simon (@AncientKeeper) January 13, 2020
Proudfoot has spoken very highly of the England team since joining and he is inheriting a formidable pack as well.
While the Springboks were able to maul Jones’ men in the RWC final, few teams in world rugby can match the power and dynamism of the group Proudfoot is now training.
It’s under three weeks until the Six Nations starts, with England travelling to the Stade de France on February 2 to take on a new French coaching team that are at the beginning of a new era under Fabien Gathie.
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Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments