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Borthwick reveals chat with Eddie Jones as he's quizzed on England job

Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick confer ahead of England's game with Australia in Oita. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images,)

Steve Borthwick has revealed he spoke to sacked Eddie Jones this week but insists his expected elevation to replace his former mentor as England head coach has not disrupted Leicester’s preparations for their Heineken Champions Cup match with Ospreys on Sunday.

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Borthwick, the director of rugby, was happy to pay fulsome tribute to Jones having been his assistant coach with Japan and England but refused to discuss his impending departure from Leicester, however, he confirmed he expected to be in the Tigers’ coaching box for the Cup game with Clermont on December 17.

The former England captain, who led Leicester to the Premiership title last season, is expected to want the majority of the Tigers coaches with him at England but was quick to dismiss suggestions the speculation had been a distraction this week for the club. Borthwick said: “I don’t think anyone can possibly doubt how committed I have been since the minute I walked through this door to give the best I can for this team, and that is my intention again this week to get the performance we want.

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“I spoke to Eddie Jones this week and he is a phenomenal coach and I feel very fortunate and privileged top have worked with him in different places for so many years. I have learnt and continue to learn a huge amount from him. Even when not working in the same coaching team at Leicester Tigers he has been incredibly supportive of myself and my coaching journey.

“We would be here all day if we tried to talk about all the things; the work ethic, desire to learn and never cease to want to be better and improve; the desire to help the players achieve their dreams. What I will talk about, which I don’t hear talked about , is the generosity of the guy. I have seen him help people around the world. He loves the game and is an incredible coach.

“I speak to people at the RFU every week because we have a lot of England players here. Within this team there is no talk about anything but the Ospreys game. There are always things going around the team and your job is to be focussed on what you need to do.

“I have always been upfront with players about anything and everything and this team has all kind of challenges over the last two years and potential obstacles. Every time these players there is anything that could possibly distract from outside they concentrate on the next challenge.”

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Borthwick is wary about the challenge Ospreys will offer in Wales and said: “The Ospreys have the vast majority of the Wales team and has the best scrum in the URC and an international tight five with pace and power in their backs. It will be an incredible contest.”

In a nod to the impact test rugby has on the club game, Borthwick admitted he was resting key players such as Ben Youngs, Julian Montoya and Jasper Wiese because of the impact of the Autumn tests. “It’s not ideal to play international rugby the same time as club rugby with that number of clashes. Sometimes life isn’t ideal and you just have to get on with it.”

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BeamMeUp 3 hours ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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