Reactions are mixed to Leicester's latest coaching reshuffle

The long awaited announcement of Steve Borthwick’s arrival of Leicester Tigers – a story first broken by RugbyPass last October – was finally made on Tuesday. 

The former England captain is set to finish his time working under Eddie Jones, currently as a skills coach, before heading to Welford Road. 

The Rugby Football Union announced earlier this week that he will move on at the end of the season, which means he will be ready for next campaign with Leicester. 

Whether working for Jones with Japan or England, Borthwick has had a lot of success, largely as a forwards coach, helping build one of the most formidable packs in the world with England. 

Forward supremacy has historically been the Tigers’ bread and butter, but they have perhaps lost their way in recent years. Borthwick, though, is being tipped by Tigers supporters to bring back that edge. 

Expect to see them fly up the league https://t.co/owikZwp8Cy

— mikey savage (@mikey_sav123) January 21, 2020

Amazing news!! A huge welcome to Steve, and an exciting future for Tigers fans. https://t.co/ctHYzSvgxI

— Jonathan Palfreyman (@joepalfre) January 21, 2020

The fightback starts now https://t.co/Xs5bNWa8th

— Peter Attenborough (@PeterAttenborou) January 21, 2020

https://twitter.com/DaveNorris07/status/1219675564094693379

The last couple of years have been rough for one of English rugby’s powerhouses, as Leicester narrowly avoided relegation last season after finishing eleventh in the Gallagher Premiership. 

They would also theoretically be bottom of the table at the moment if it were not for Saracens’ automatic relegation. 

The fact that relegation is no longer a possibility this season gives them the freedom to wait for Borthwick and it is believed that his pedigree will finally mark the beginning of a turnaround.

https://twitter.com/BlindsideJim/status/1219619413076381696?s=20

Well done #Tigers… like the look of this set up. First steps on way back to the top I hope 👍

— Ju P 💙 (@Schmoo1408) January 21, 2020

Meanwhile, the decision to move current head coach Geordan Murphy to the role of director of rugby has not gone down too well. 

While the former Ireland international is a club legend, his coaching stint since taking over from Matt O’Connor in 2018 has not been particularly successful. 

https://twitter.com/brakey7/status/1219556835927216129?s=20

I very much like Murphy as a bloke but he's been incredibly lucky with promotions!

— Dave Parry (@DaveyP82) January 21, 2020

Borthwick is a great appointment. What criteria did Murphy satisfy to get promoted? This smacks of an outsider being brought in with no autonomy as the old guard stifle new ideas and thinking. I hope it works but it is hardly a bold move. Has Cohen gone yet?

— Mark Fletcher #Sunak Out (@MarkFletch117) January 21, 2020

While some see this as a promotion for Murphy – and one that may not necessarily be warranted – his role will be different from Borthwick’s and he will remain a figure within the club who is aware of its identity going forward. 

Nonetheless, it is the former lock that is given the responsibility of resurrecting the Tigers to their former glory, and he looks suited to do just that. 

WATCH: Andy Goode and Brendan Venter didn’t hold back on this week’s The Rugby Pod as they discussed Saracens and the salary cap scandal