Borthwick happy to go back for future

SO IT looks like Steve Borthwick has learned a lesson and decided what many thought was perhaps a step too far for the England coach to make.

- JEFF PROBYN

After a few years of following the idea of a modern look to the scrum and what abilities the players need to play in the international game, Borthwick has taken a step back that may well lead to a step forward for the team.

The recall of Joe Marler and Dan Cole shows a rethink that may enable England to copy the current world champions South Africa and dictate how the game can be won by creating a stable scrum at last.

Over the past few years, there has been a move by a number of international coaches to pick forwards, particularly front row players, whose main talents were their ball carrying skills. Although this can help the team when in open play, it doesn’t help the forwards to do their main job which is to control and suppress their opposition and create the open space for the team to exploit.

The scrum has always been one of the most important facets of the game even when I was playing, as was proved when new England coach Geoff Cooke, who took over after the first World Cup in 1987, said his first priority was to find a destructive tighthead prop which gave me the chance to play for England.

I became the most capped prop (until Jason Leonard came along) and held the record for the most tries scored by a prop until recently when Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler both overtook my record.

That said, I still retain one record which is that I am the only player whose opposition cut off the sleeves of their shirts to play against me.