Former England captain Steve Borthwick, beforehand in command of Premiership champions Leicester, succeeded veteran coach Eddie Jones. The Australian was sacked following England’s worst 12 months of outcomes since 2008, with solely 5 wins from 12 video games.
FILE: England head coach Steve Borthwick. Picture: NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP
TWICKENHAM – Steve Borthwick vowed to get Twickenham “roaring” after being appointed head coach of the England rugby crew on Monday with simply 9 months to revive their flagging fortunes till the 2023 World Cup.
Former England captain Borthwick, beforehand in command of Premiership champions Leicester, succeeded veteran coach Eddie Jones. The Australian was sacked following England’s worst 12 months of outcomes since 2008, with solely 5 wins from 12 video games.
“To be appointed to this role fills me with incredible pride and I’m honoured to take on this job,” Borthwick, informed a Twickenham information convention on Monday.
“Now I know that pride will count for nothing if we don’t deliver,” added Borthwick, who spent 5 years as an England assistant coach beneath Jones.
Borthwick mentioned he needed the crew to reconnect with their followers after Jones’ final match in cost, a 27-13 defeat to world champions South Africa, ended with England booed off the pitch at Twickenham.
“The stadium has changed a bit,” mentioned the 43-year-old Borthwick, who made his Test debut in 2001.
“But from that day the thing that will always stick in my mind is as you stepped outside the tunnel, the noise that hits you in this stadium.”
Borthwick’s first recreation is the Six Nations opener towards Scotland at Twickenham on 4 February.
“It’s not very long before we play Scotland here and when this team walks out of that tunnel, I want to hear that roar louder than ever,” he mentioned.
“Our job as a team, my job as a coach in helping prepare that team, is to give our supporters plenty to roar about.”
Borthwick mentioned he spoke to teaching mentor Jones final week, including: “I’m grateful for everything Eddie has done throughout my coaching career to support me.”
‘BRILLIANT BASICS’
But, he added: “Right now, if you look at the Autumn series, I don’t think England are ranked in the top three in any one particular facet of the game.”
Asked about his rapid goals, he mirrored on his early days as an England worldwide beneath 2003 World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward, latterly one among Jones’s sternest critics.
“In every single meeting there were posters on the wall – I was 20, 21 – and the poster that I always referred to was one that said ‘brilliant basics’,” recalled Borthwick.
“We have a lot of work to do, but first and foremost we have to be brilliant at the basics come that first game in 47 days’ time.”
Warren Gatland, now again in command of Wales, Ronan O’Gara and Scott Robertson had been touted as potential replacements for Jones however Borthwick was at all times the RFU’s favoured candidate.
“We had discussions about post-2023 and Steve was always our lead choice and preferred candidate to come in and do the England job,” mentioned RFU chief govt Bill Sweeney.
The RFU additionally introduced Leicester assistant coach and former Great Britain rugby league worldwide Kevin Sinfield will be a part of Borthwick as defence coach.
Borthwick performed as a lock for Bath and Saracens and received 57 caps for England.
He started his teaching profession in 2012 as assistant to Jones with the Japan nationwide crew, culminating in a surprising win over South Africa within the 2015 World Cup.
When Jones took over England later that 12 months, Borthwick got here too. The crew received a Six Nations Grand Slam of their first season.
They guided England to the 2019 World Cup last, dropping to South Africa 32-12 in Yokohama.
Borthwick left for Leicester in 2020 and this 12 months guided the Tigers to their first league title since 2013.
England have struggled for consistency as Jones’ demanding managerial fashion led to a churn of backroom employees.
Jones, Australia’s coach once they misplaced the 2003 World Cup last and a marketing consultant to the Springboks’ facet that received in 2007, mentioned Monday he was open to presents forward of France 2023.
“If I’m asked to help a team at the World Cup, I’ll consider that proposition very carefully,” he informed French sports activities newspaper Midi Olympique.