With just 12 Tests remaining before the Rugby World Cup, Steve Borthwick has made it clear that he wants an England group packed with genuine contenders for a place in the final squad.
England have an upcoming three-day training camp ahead of the Autumn Nations Series for which Borthwick has named a 36-player squad which will gather at England’s performance centre at Pennyhill Park.
England will face Australia, Japan and New Zealand throughout November, in a series that represents their final opportunity to test themselves against southern hemisphere opposition before the Rugby World Cup.
It means Borthwick is already keeping a close eye on his players, knowing that he will soon be approaching the selection of his 33-man squad to travel down under and face Tonga, Zimbabwe and Wales in the pool stage.
Head coach Steve Borthwick discusses how he shapes team culture within the England rugby side.
Although the challenge is considerable, Borthwick is eager to see how his side perform as players seize their opportunities to prove they deserve to represent England on rugby’s biggest stage.
“It is a hugely exciting period. I think this team is an exciting team. It’s got so much talent and so many young players coming through with so much ability,” Borthwick told Sky Sports.
“As I framed it to the players, we’ve got 12 Tests now to the World Cup. We have got 10 tests until I name a 33-man squad that goes to the World Cup.
“I said, effectively, I am not going to bring in a large training squad, I am going to bring in a squad that has everybody in contention for selection for that 33.
“So, there’s only nine tests until I name that squad. This is the last chance we will have the team playing against the Southern Hemisphere opposition before we get to that World Cup.
“I am really looking forward to seeing how the players face against this calibre opponent, this type of opponent, the way they play, coming off the schedule they come off, where they’ve been in camp for a long period of time and played a number of Test matches.
“It is a great challenge for us.”
Is Borthwick close to knowing his best team?
So, just how close is Borthwick to settling on his strongest side? Perhaps closer than many might expect, with the England head coach making it “clear” that more than 20 players are already firmly in contention for selection. He will continue to back those players as they look to cement their places in the squad.
“I think it is a very consistent feeling. I think out of the 33-man Rugby World Cup squad, I’d be very confident that somewhere in the mid-to-high 20s of players, I think they’ll be at the World Cup,” added Borthwick.
England’s rugby union squad are in a three-day training camp for their game against Australia, in the Nations Championship. Joe Marchant is back in the squad and has told Sky Sports’ James Cole,he has changed as a player during his time away.
“I have been very clear to the players about that. If you look at my selections, you will see there’s been a lot of consistency of selection and backing the players.
“So, not chopping and changing them from one game to the next, but backing the players to go and perform.
“As with every World Cup squad I’ve selected, a huge amount of time is spent debating the final few places. Positional versatility and flexibility are invaluable, as are players who are ready to step up and bring the right character to the squad.”
Has pressure eased or been embraced?
In September, reports emerged that Borthwick was set to have his contract extended beyond the 2028 Six Nations in a move designed to avoid uncertainty over his future ahead of and during next year’s Rugby World Cup.
The England head coach has retained the backing of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) despite a “challenging” review of the Six Nations campaign, in which England suffered four defeats in five matches.
Although speculation surrounding his future has intensified in recent months, Borthwick insists he has always understood the pressure that comes with leading England and is prepared to embrace the responsibility.
James Cole explains why the RFU has backed current England head coach Steve Borthwick to stay on after a ‘challenging’ Six Nations review.
“I think that for us, the focus has been very much upon the World Cup and this challenge you have in this role,” he said.
“Where you focus on the World Cup, which is now a year away, and the game that’s immediately in front of you. I don’t think my focus has ever changed. I don’t think my assistant coach’s focus has ever changed.
“With the amount of preparation time we have, we need to maximise every minute. So I don’t think it really comes into a factor within consideration.
“When you coach in England, the expectation of the millions of people that watch it, it is wonderful.
“Lots of people say they want to go and coach and actually the reality is very different. I love this role, I love coaching this team, and I am fortunate to have a fantastic group of coaches to work with and a brilliant group of players that are keen to learn and continue their development journey.”
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