Steve Borthwick upbeat about England's future after agonising World Cup defeat
Steve Borthwick has been compared to a World War Two code cracker and a Vulcan starship officer by Jonny May as he was backed to solve the puzzle of how to make England great again. The detail-obsessed England head coach was booed at some World Cup matches by fans unconvinced he had the big-picture vision for the job after a sketchy start to his tenure.
But after England ran world champions South Africa so close in their semi-final, Borthwick has begun to win over the popular vote. And while he does not have the magnetism of his predecessor Eddie Jones, wing Jonny May believes Borthwick’s rugby nerdiness can pay long-term dividends for England.
“We’re starting to see what a genius Steve is, in terms of how he’s starting to get this team going,” said May. “You won’t find a harder working man than Steve and his approach to the game is a little bit like Alan Turing.
“If anybody is going to crack the code to rugby it will be Steve – and good luck to him. He’s getting ever closer each week. He’s got an analytical brain and evidence-based, scientific, Spock-like approach to the game.
“Within his ways, he’s onto something. He’s a young coach, and he’s unique – it’s different the way he goes about the game. He’s obsessed with it.” But 10 months into the role, how is Borthwick doing?
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Steve Borthwick’s England tenure so far rated
Results – On the up. Reaching a World Cup semifinal, however favourable the draw, still has to be done and England did it despite all the headwinds. They were one scrum penalty away from the final.
Overall though, Borthwick’s 53.3 per cent win ratio from his first 15 Tests remains modest. It places him second bottom on the list of England permanent head coaches in the professional era with only Andy Robinson beneath him.
Selection – Ballsy. Big call on Owen Farrell ahead of George Ford and Marcus Smith at stand-off for the knockout stages proved justified. Likewise his faith in Dan Cole and the promotions for George Martin and Joe Marler for the semi-final.
However it should also be remembered that Borthwick left two of his other standouts – May and Alex Mitchell – out of his initial World Cup squad. Lack of faith in the back-up hookers he picked for France 2023 left Jamie George overworked.
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Communication – Weak. As a front man he remains uninspiring. His primary job is to coach a rugby team not to win an Oscar but the pre-prepared sentences he trots out robotically give little or no insight to the English rugby public.
The players say he is better at delivering a message behind the scenes than on camera, thankfully.
Style – Effective but uninspiring. No side has kicked the ball more than England at this World Cup. In the wet conditions, against South Africa, those tactics were spot on but you have to wonder if Twickenham supporters will lap up Bor-ball going forwards.
Ex-France flanker Olivier Magne – labelled England’s rugby “repulsive” during the group stages and even their own fans whistled the conservatism. Having bought himself time, he should try to evolve England’s method – but will the spreadsheets tell him to do that?
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