At first glance, it was a low-key day at the stadium formerly known as Twickenham. The weather was unseasonably warm in mid-October, and a sleepy fox was dozing on the porch of a makeshift building in the north parking lot. A duly heralded English team looked completely predictable with Steve Borthwick doing everything he could to prevent Thomas Tuchel from stealing his thunder.
Borthwick politely declined an invitation to offer advice to the incoming German: “he already has a lot of experience in English football,” citing a well-known statistic about international teams doing better with national coaches. Great Competitions. He preferred to let others observe that he would soon be the sole boss of his home country in England cricket, football and men's rugby.
Still, there's no avoiding the inevitable questions about his own assistant coaches. Until now, Borthwick has chosen to remain silent on the sudden summer departures of his two main management flanks, Felix Jones and Aled Walters. Here, they finally had the chance to tell the world that it was their loss and that the couple would very much regret their decisions.
Or, at least, that's what the outspoken Teutonic leader could have done. Or his immediate predecessor, Eddie Jones. Eddie's mood immediately darkens and borders on confrontational: “What do you mean, buddy?” – will emerge quickly. Borthwick, on the other hand, looked like a man who had been kicked in pain somewhere and still couldn't understand why.
This is the same question that a significant portion of the English population still struggles with. If Twickenham (previously known ground) was such a wonderful place to work, why did two of Borthwick's most qualified lieutenants suddenly jump ship? Ignore for a moment that Jones is Irish and Walters Welsh (pearl-crazed patriotism seems to be fully ignited only in those of continental Europe) and the quick exits don't seem entirely coincidental.
What is now on record is that Borthwick did not see it coming. “The two are close, but it was still disappointing and surprising. “I didn't expect that.” Actually? In that case, there will usually be one of three outcomes. First, the work environment in England is so stiflingly intense that disgruntled employees cannot speak honestly and openly about their personal concerns. Secondly, they feel they have a better chance of winning trophies elsewhere. And the third? Borthwick's executive antennas do not pick up some of the “softer” signals that world-class coaches typically receive from a mile away.
Admittedly, there is another possible explanation: Borthwick was simply unlucky. But Jones quit without another job and was forced to work remotely while serving his notice, which could be classified as “naughty boy networks” or “narrow-minded frivolity,” depending on your point of view. Furthermore, Jones is the chief designer of England's brilliant new defensive system, and the last thing the rugby union wants is to see an opposition hunched over a laptop on the training ground next month.
Either way, Borthwick could have drawn a hard line all week. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so, and a proposed work-sharing agreement was understandably blocked by Premiership clubs. The respected Phil Morrow should be given a performance management role for both England and Saracens.
Instead, it appears that Moro, who will be bought out on a highly lucrative long-term deal at Sarris, will not be wearing the Red Rose tracksuit before next summer. With Kevin Sinfield's role now more part-time and new defense coach Joe El-Aubt still working at Oyonnax in France, Borthwick's backroom team is in danger of resembling one of those frustratingly incomplete Ikea wardrobes. Screws.
It is not surprising that Borthwick wanted to present a coherent message. “We like to see drama on the field… when we look at things that happen off the field, sometimes it can be classified as drama. But for me we have a stable training team. [comprising] Guys, I worked for a while.
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However, the truth is that the players are not the only ones who will prove that all is well with two or three spectacular victories next month.
With Jamie George reconfirmed as captain, the main objective this year is to turn narrow defeats into morale-boosting victories. “We've won every one of those games at some point,” Borthwick insisted. “If you add the Ireland game here, there is a key penalty and a key shot and the result can go for or against. As this team grows and matures, I think we will understand [how to] Finish those games and get the job done.
Of course, this is what makes the best sports alchemists their corn. The Borthwick team made encouraging progress on the pitch during their summer tour and the quality of the team is best illustrated by some of the talent that has been omitted.
But as Herr Tuchel and Borthwick will no doubt agree when they meet, clarity is everything when it comes to a team's long-term identity. And regardless of the nationality of the head coach, uncertainty off the field is rarely a recipe for sustained success on it.
