The Leicester reaction to getting back 'desperate' England players
Leicester boss Steve Borthwick has insisted that Ben Youngs, Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Steward have not been damaged by England’s debilitating Autumn Nations Series results and are ready to help the club’s Gallagher Premiership title defence and Heineken Champions Cup challenge.
With England winning just one of their four autumn tests, the fallout from the disappointing campaign has put head coach Eddie Jones in the firing line but Leicester coach Borthwick isn’t concerned about the mental state of his trio of players, Youngs, van Poortvliet and Steward.
Veteran scrum-half Youngs, 33, lost his starting place and was reduced to walk-on cameo appearances while the 21-year-old van Poortvliet struggled with the starting No9 responsibilities in place of Youngs. Only Steward, another 21-year-old, enhanced his England standing which earned him the full-back place in a World Rugby XV chosen on this year’s performances – although he also had to deal with numerous uncharacteristic mistakes in last Saturday’s defeat to South Africa.
Having gained considerable experience as an England international player and an assistant Test-level coach with Japan and England, Borthwick is acutely aware of the need to check the mental and physical state of players such as Steward once they return to Leicester from Test duty.
He said: “I get to work with an incredible group of players here at Leicester and they have come back from international rugby and are desperate to get out onto the pitch. We will take it on an individual basis because they have played a different number of minutes. They get a full medical and strength and conditioning assessment.
“You have to do what is right for each player and I chat to all the players about their experiences, how they are physically and emotionally, and I find that they are desperate to play. They love playing and want to be on the field. International rugby exposes them to the pace of the game that is another level to club rugby and they improve as players.
“They want to put the lessons they learn onto the field as soon as possible. Like the rest of the players, Freddie wants to get better that is one of the challenges I love as a coach. Freddie’s character is to constantly search for another edge and that is remarkable.
“Every single one of our international players – we have had lots with different countries – are raring to get back in and back onto the pitch which is terrific. There are always challenges for players to come from different international systems and then play in the structure we will want, different calls and languages. However, their attitude has been first-class.
“Having been a player in that position and also a coach with international teams, you understand the demands on the players. There have been a lot of challenges in the last two years at Leicester and every one of the players has been incredible with their attitude to covid, cancelled games plus players being injured. The attitude has been, ‘It’s not perfect so let’s just get on with it’. That’s a great testament to the team.”
Leicester next travel to Bristol for an 8pm Saturday kick-off having held on for a 33-31 home win over London Irish on Sunday. Borthwick is confident Bristol will pose a serious threat despite their lowly position in the league and the meeting with ex-Tigers skipper Ellis Genge will add an extra edge to the contest.
“We have incredible respect for Ellis Genge and I know he has enormous respect for us. He is part of the history of the club, a famous part. Ellis is passionate and caring and wants to do well and that is the type of person he is. We gave Irish a lot of opportunities around penalties we shouldn’t concede.”
Comments on RugbyPass
There’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to comments