SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: Finally an England team with real pace… what a contrast to the Eddie Jones era! Directed by Owen Farrell and featuring the likes of Freddie Steward and Ollie Hassell-Collins, this is one I’d love to train
- Steve Borthwick’s first team selection provided a stark contrast to Jones’s tenure
- He picked Premiership players capable of playing at real pace
- The new Heach coach also made the right call by making Farrell captain for the Six Nations
The first squad selection of the new era of England under Steve Borthwick proves not only that he wants to choose a team with speed, but also promises a big contrast to the era of Eddie Jones.
Jones never named the likes of Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Earl for the Six Nations, as Borthwick did. Under the Australian, England went from one to 15 very slowly.
To win a World Cup, England cannot rely on brute power alone. They are not South African. There must be speed and dynamism in the players selected.
Steve Borthwick’s first squad selection provided a stark contrast to the Eddie Jones era
England’s overall strategy and gameplan need to change significantly, which is why I am pleased with Borthwick’s selection. It is very positive. I was Jones’ No 1 fan until the week of the 2019 World Cup final. England made a mistake in their preparations for that game in Yokohama. There were distractions everywhere and the team, as well as Jones, never recovered.
Borthwick immediately brought new vitality to England’s set-up with new players and a new coaching team. This means I am very excited about the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland in the first round of the Six Nations. That wouldn’t have happened if Jones was still in charge.
There will be anticipation and excitement at Twickenham on February 4 and that hasn’t been the case for the last few years. Quite simply, Borthwick has picked Premiership players who all have the ability to play at real pace. I hope they will be elected to their rightful positions.
Borthwick was right to name Owen Farrell (above) as captain for the Six Nations
Hassell-Collins, Earl and Ben Curry have earned selection on the back of their domestic exploits and that’s as it should be. Dan Cole is back at the age of 35 after playing superbly for Leicester Tigers. I don’t care about that. It shows that age is no barrier and that form is rewarded.
Borthwick’s decision to make Owen Farrell captain was the right one and I really want him to start at No 10 during the Six Nations. He should start the Scotland game there.
The best I saw England play under Jones was when Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Henry Slade filled the 10, 12 and 13 shirts respectively. Hopefully, we’ll see that trio reunited in midfield. Tuilagi needs to step up and use all his skills. He shouldn’t just be a battering ram. Tuilagi is currently not at his best and if Borthwick is picking form then Dan Kelly will be behind him. But I hope he can be revived by having Farrell and Slade on both sides of him.
Ollie Hassell-Collins (above), Earl and Ben Curry have earned selection on the back of club form
There has been a lot of talk about Farrell after his recent ban. Rugby’s disciplinary process makes the game ridiculous. Sport makes itself a hostage to fate and leaves itself open to criticism. Farrell is at the center of the debate, but it is not about him or any other individual.
Rugby needs to find real clarity and move away from the idea that bans can be reduced by taking a course of action, pleading guilty, or having good previous behaviour. It’s embarrassing.
The good news for Borthwick is that Farrell could play against Scotland. That’s all he can focus on and what he can do as a coach.
As expected, veteran Tigers prop Dan Cole was brought back into the set-up
Borthwick’s appointment is the present and the future in England but Australia have made a seriously big call by bringing back Jones. I smiled at the decision as Jones’ return to the international arena adds extra spice to an already big World Cup year.
He will be a man on a mission. His last three years in England took a lot of the aura off him but if I were in charge of Australian rugby, I’d make exactly the same call.
Like many others, I have been very critical of Jones as England went backwards and quickly in every aspect of the game, but he is great at getting a team into shape in double quick time.
There is now the tantalizing prospect that Jones may coach against Borthwick’s England at the World Cup. England were right to sack Jones, but if he returns to join them, big questions will still be asked of the RFU and chief executive Bill Sweeney. There will be finger-pointing if England are knocked out of the tournament by Jones’ Australia.
If that happens, Sweeney will be exposed because the logical thing to do when firing Jones is to put him on gardening leave or make sure he doesn’t run into a rival.
It didn’t happen, but that was for the future and Borthwick and England should focus on the Six Nations first.
I’m looking forward to seeing his team play. Beat Scotland and then Italy at Twickenham and England will have real momentum, which is very important. A team led by Farrell and with the likes of Freddie Steward, Tuilagi, Slade and Hassell-Collins is one I would love to coach.
It was a new dawn in English rugby. I look forward to it.
