England coach Steve Borthwick admits his ‘shock’ at defections

Steve Borthwick has revealed his shock at the recent defections from his England management team – but defiantly declared that top coaches are still vying to work in the national set-up.

The abrupt resignations of Aled Walters and Felix Jones over the summer led to fears of a return to the constant ‘churn’ of staff which scarred the Eddie Jones era. Fitness guru Walters decided to take up a role with Ireland while Felix Jones, who ran the defence, is currently serving a 12-month notice period and is fulfilling analysis duties remotely.

Their departures created the impression of trouble behind the scenes, but after naming a 36-man squad for the Autumn Nations Series, head coach Borthwick sought to play down the impression of chaos and unrest. ‘Every case is individual,’ he said. ‘I understand we want to see the drama on the pitch and when we see stuff happening off the pitch, it’s characterised sometimes as drama.

‘But for me, we have quite a stable coaching team. We have Wiggy (Richard Wigglesworth), we have Tom Harrison, Straws (Andrew Strawbridge) and Kevin Sinfield – these are guys I’ve worked with for a period of time now.’

Borthwick was at pains to emphasise that there had been a stampede of pedigree operators wanting to fill the voids left in the England coaching set-up. ‘I think people can see the direction the team is going in – and I think it’s a team that’s exciting to work with,’ he added. ‘That’s seen in the number of coaches who contacted me and wanted to join.

Steve Borthwick has revealed his shock at the recent defections from his management team

‘I respected that two guys decided they wanted to go elsewhere for individual reasons and personal circumstances. But there are also a lot of people who want to be here. The high-quality CVs I got sent, means there’s a lot of people who want to coach this England team.’

Moving fast in adversity, Borthwick and the RFU recruited Dan Tobin in a strength & conditioning role, and Joe El Abd – on an initial job-share between England and his French club, Oyonnax – as the new defence coach. They are also continuing to negotiate with Premiership rivals about being able to bring in Saracens’ respected general manager, Phil Morrow.

But losing Walters and Jones in quick succession were grim developments, as Borthwick admitted, saying: ‘Aled deciding to go and join Ireland was a surprise and I’m disappointed. He talked about wanting a different challenge. We have worked together for more than four years – and we’ve already done a World Cup with England. He made a very personal decision and I wished him well – but not against us!

‘It was a few days later that Felix told me, having had the Aled news, that he didn’t want to work with the team and he wanted to move in a different direction. The two of them are close, but it was still disappointing and surprising. I hadn’t anticipated it. Felix is a top-quality coach who has added a lot to this team.

England defence coach and two-time World Cup winner Felix Jones quit his position 

‘It’s professional sport; things change and move on. I feel fortunate that we have Dan Tobin who is a really quality coach, and to be able to bring Joe in was really pleasing. Phil Morrow is another world-class operator and I’m hopeful that, at some point in the future, he will be working with this team.’

As and when that happens, Borthwick hopes that – having also agreed terms for Kevin Sinfield to stay on for another three years in a mentoring role – he will have a coaching team in place until the next World Cup, in 2027. Is that the idea? ‘The simple answer is yes,’ he said.

Borthwick named a settled squad which included Exeter centre Henry Slade, who is yet to play this season after shoulder surgery, but is still a possible contender to feature against New Zealand at Twickenham on November 2, unlike the omitted Alex Mitchell, who has a neck problem. Having announced his training group, there was a light-hearted exchange about the head coach’s new football counterpart, Thomas Tuchel, who was being unveiled on the far side of London.

Asked if he had ever crossed paths with the German, who previously managed Chelsea, Borthwick said: ‘I have not. I have read a lot about him – and probably in the last 12 hours read more about him! I would look forward to having the opportunity at some stage to learn more from him.

Jones is close to Aled Waters, left, who left the England set-up to join Ireland earlier this year

‘The players speak really well of him. The players are the best judges. You hear them and read what they say; good players say good things about him.’

There has been an inevitable focus on the nationality of the man appointed by the FA to be Gareth Southgate’s successor. Asked his view on whether nationality is a factor in international coaching, Borthwick – who worked with Japan before he joined the England set-up under Australian Eddie Jones – added: ‘First and foremost, it is having the best coach for the team that you have.

‘What we have also seen is that not too many major trophies have been won by teams coached by a coach from another nation. That is just a fact. The key point is, get the right coach. That is the most important thing.’