The former lock is not yet acquainted on a personal level with newly-unveiled football counterpart Thomas Tuchel, but he is sure he will soon be, such are the circles in which major sporting figureheads swim.
Events at Wembley may have stolen Borthwick’s thunder but this was nonetheless a crucial day for the Cumbrian. The last few months have been ones of yet more behind-the-scenes tumult within his coaching staff, England rocked in the summer by the departure of strength and conditioning guru Aled Walters and defence coach Felix Jones. Borthwick had not spoken publicly since.
”I understand when situations like that happen, we want to see the drama on the pitch and when we see stuff happening off the pitch, it’s characterised sometimes as drama,” Borthwick said, moving to play down suggestions of turmoil. “But for me, we have quite a stable coaching team: we have Wiggy [Richard Wigglesworth], we have Tom Harrison and Straws [Andrew Strawbridge] – these are guys I’ve worked with for a period of time now.”
Borthwick would not be drawn on the specifics of either departure. While Walters has taken up an exciting role in Ireland, where he lives, and is a strong contender to assist Andy Farrell on the British and Irish Lions tour next summer, Jones remains on the payroll of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) while he works a 12-month notice period. He will, in Borthwick’s words, provide support from afar on “specific projects regarding analysis” as Joe El-Abd - working two jobs as he oversees a final season at French club Oyonnax - takes up control of the defence.
Walters is yet to be directly replaced, with Borthwick’s attempts to appoint Saracens’s Phil Morrow so far blocked by the other Premiership clubs. It is still hoped that agreement will be reached to secure Morrow, but his arrival is unlikely to come before the Six Nations. Despite the head coach’s protestations, a picture of chaos is easy to paint.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 17, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 17, 2024-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Tuchel left with big calls to make after Carsley refresh
No pressure, Thomas. Lee Carsley hands over to Thomas Tuchel promising to give England’s next manager a comprehensive debrief on the three autumn camps but perhaps also elevating expectations. Not so much with the results – promotion in the Nations League was anticipated for a team ranked fourth in the world and who reached the final of Euro 2024 – as with his assessment of England’s prospects for the time covered by Tuchel’s 18-month deal.
Wiegman calls up uncapped trio for injury-hit Lionesses
England manager Sarina Wiegman is confident Laura Blindkilde-Brown and Ruby Mace can both make the most of their first senior call-ups to an injury-hit squad.
Wales promoted as Cullen double freezes out Iceland
Wales won Nations League promotion as Liam Cullen’s first two international goals helped them to a 4-1 victory over Iceland.
Retail bosses gifted excuse for when things go wrong
It’s not just British farmers who are hacked off by the latest Budget some of the biggest names in retail have now joined forces to send one of those angry, multi-signature letters to the chancellor, scolding her for the imminent tax hikes coming their way.
Jaguar pounces on new logo
Car giant Jaguar has unveiled a new logo and a rebranded range of electric cars alongside marketing slogans such as “delete ordinary,” “live vivid,” and “copy nothing.”
OF UNSOUND MIND
A disquieting mood permeates the BBC's 'The Listeners', the complex story of a teacher whose life unravels after she starts hearing a ceaseless, mysterious hum, writes Nick Hilton
It's grit over gloss in photo show's eye on the Eighties
Protest, poverty and privilege - The 80s: Photographing Britain at Tate Britain offers an exciting, if partial, view of a decade that remains highly polarising, writes Mark Hudson
Publicly-owned rail may not get us back on right track
Nationalisation is often touted as a golden ticket to a better train service. Simon Calder is less optimistic it will work
CAFFEINE FIX
Why does a squirt of syrup in your coffee at Christmas burn such a massive hole in your wallet? Olivia Petter finds out.
Longing and loss: our era of British cinematic elegance
It is four decades since A Room with a View’ made Merchant Ivory a household name. Sarah Sands recalls a world in which her brother Kit and her then husband Julian were central
