Following the sacking of Eddie Jones on Tuesday, it is anticipated that Steve Borthwick will be appointed head coach of England this week. The Rugby Football Union and Borthwick’s club, Leicester Tigers, are reportedly negotiating a
compensation package, but the former England captain will officially be named Jones’s replacement before the weekend.
Borthwick, 43, left the RFU in the summer of 2020 to join Leicester, but he will now return to Twickenham to take Jones’ place. With immediate effect, the 62-year-old Australian has been let go, and forwards coach Richard Cockerill has been given temporary charge until Borthwick arrives.
From misfit to magician: Where Eddie Jones went wrong | Robert Kitson There is still no consensus regarding the exact composition of Borthwick’s Six Nations backroom staff. Kevin Sinfield of Leicester, Richard Wigglesworth, and fitness guru Aled Walters are all likely candidates. However, the Tigers could manage without losing their entire coaching staff in the middle of the season, and it’s possible that some of Jones’s assistants will stay involved for the foreseeable future.
Nine months before the Rugby World Cup begins in France next year, it summarizes the numerous uncertainties the RFU is currently dealing with. Even though Jones’ seven-year tenure came to an end this year with a series of disappointing results, it is a big decision to fire him so close to the World Cup, as Borthwick has nine matches to turn around a ship that is sinking. On February 4, England and Scotland are scheduled to meet at Twickenham in a Calcutta Cup matchup to kick off their 2023 Six Nations campaign.
However, it was clear to the RFU that it could not continue to support a head coach whose team had the worst year of results since 2008. Backroom staff have also left in greater numbers than in any other major nation, as Jones’s demanding style and unwavering work ethic proved too much for many.
The 27-13 loss against South Africa, and the Twickenham boos that welcomed.
it, demonstrated the straw that broke the camel’s back, taking everything into account. But under Jones, England won 59 out of 81 games, drawing two, and Jones had a 73% winning percentage, which was better than any other head coach, including Sir Clive Woodward, who won the World Cup.
The RFU’s chief executive, Bill Sweeney, said in a statement that he was thankful to Jones.
“for all he has done for England across many areas of the game” and that he had made a “huge contribution” to the English game by leading his team to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, three Six Nations titles, and a grand slam victory in 2016.
In 2017, England equaled New Zealand’s record of 18 consecutive Test victories under the Australian, but since then, they have been less successful consistently. In this year’s 12 Tests, England lost six, tied one, won five, and won one of their four autumn games.
Jones is said to be philosophical, but he is disappointed by the RFU’s decision.
because he has always said he wants to win the World Cup in 2023. However, he insisted that he was leaving satisfied with England’s progress under his leadership. I am looking forward to watching the England team perform in the future and am pleased with the many things we have accomplished together. I will undoubtedly keep in touch with many of the players, and I wish them all success in their careers.
The RFU had backed Jones as recently as March, following England’s disappointing Six Nations campaign,.
stating that it was “encouraged by the solid progress the team has made.” Matt Giteau, a former Wallaby international, described Jones’s departure from the team as “the silliest thing they could do to the English rugby team” and a “big mistake” on Twitter.
Borthwick, who was born in Cumbria, won 57 England caps and served as captain for two years. He has coached with Japan, Bristol, and Leicester since his retirement in 2014, as well as England for five seasons under Jones’ leadership. He led the Tigers to their first Premiership title since 2013 last season.