I was England coach when Steve Borthwick won his first cap as a 22-year-old in a 48-17 victory over France back in 2001. He also came off the bench in a famous victory against Australia in Melbourne in 2002. Years later, I remember how pleased I was to see him at the heart of Japan’s success at the 2015 World Cup, kicking off his coaching career with such a unique experience.
I am not the first to describe Borthwick as a man of great humility, and as a coach much has been written of his meticulous attention to detail. These are wonderful traits, but in 2025 I would urge Borthwick to add another characteristic to his repertoire. Daring.
We are two years out from the World Cup and it’s time to make a statement. Selection is the single most important skillset as a coach. It is your greatest weapon, especially when you need to inspire a reaction and snap out of a funk. It’s good to have consistency in selection but there are a few players who are being selected based upon what they have done in the past.
People make a big deal out of dropping players, but often it can be the best thing for them.
I look at guys like Dan Cole, Tom Curry, Henry Slade and Jamie George and cannot help but think England would be a faster and more unpredictable attacking team without them.
You must never pick young players for the sake of it, that can end in disaster, but if they’re as good as the older player then make the change and give it a go. It’s amazing how well the youngster will play when they know they have been given their shot, the influence it has on the whole group, and how well the dropped player responds too.
Steve Borthwick needs to start making daring selections if he is to help England progress
Two years out from the World Cup, now is the time to start experimenting – and dropping stars
England would be faster and more unpredictable if Borthwick had the guts to drop captain Jamie George among others
As a coach it’s actually great fun, if a little mischievous at times. Lawrence Dallaglio was awesome against Australia one week, but I dropped him for the next game against New Zealand. It was only after I told him in the scariest meeting ever that I realised it was supposed to be his 50th cap. Whoops.
But Lewis Moody came in and played out of his skin, scoring a great try in the corner, and Lawrence couldn’t get off the bench quick enough. When given the chance, he went to an even higher level.
Following the introduction of the Enhanced Elite Playing Squad Contracts, a bold approach to selection is vital. I would send a message that EPS contract or no EPS contract, no one’s selection is assured.
The guy at the top of my list who needs to start is Henry Pollock. He’s about to turn 20 and he’s an amazing talent. He not the biggest guy but what does he have that Curry doesn’t? Pace. He’s so quick. He’s playing for Northampton’s first team in European rugby and he’s coming out of it really well.
Imagine an England back row featuring Pollock, Tom Willis and Ben Earl. If you were an opposition coach you would think, ‘Wow, these guys are going to really test us’.
There’s a lot of talk about changing the defence but why aren’t they talking about attack? England have the speed to run Ireland off their feet. I used to say it’s easy to be critical from the green seats – yes, I’m not in the coaching box – but I think these guys are ready now.
I would ask Borthwick to start being a little bit more creative. Alfie Barbeary, the Bath No 8, is someone he should look at. Everyone knew he was a special talent when Barbeary broke through for Wasps a few years ago, but he hasn’t hit anywhere near his potential. He is a unit, a fantastic player, but I don’t think he will play for England in the back row.
Why can’t Borthwick do with Barbeary what we did with Steve Thompson? When I first met Thompson, it was on the England tour of America. Phil Keith-Roach said to me, ‘This guy knows he’s not quick enough to play back-row for England but he’s ready to play hooker’.
I would make Maro Itoje captain as he is the only one who never comes off for club or country
It’s time to give uncapped prodigy Henry Pollock a chance in the back row – that would be a test to opposition coaches (pictured for England A)
Bath’s Alfie Barbeary deserves a shot at hooker and would set up up nicely long-term
We did a lot of work with him and he ended up being our only irreplaceable player at 2003. We didn’t have a hooker who was anywhere near as capable as him. Imagine what a good story it would be if Borthwick managed to do the same with Barbeary.
A combination of Barbeary and Theo Dan would put England in a really strong long-term position with their hookers. George can still play a big role in this England side and is hugely respected within the England team, but he isn’t at the top of his game. I don’t think he should be captain. Why? Because he never plays 80 minutes.
Sir Clive Woodward says Borthwick must try new things and risk upsetting big names
I had a similar issue with Dylan Hartley. He came up to me once and said, ‘You keep saying I shouldn’t be captain’. I told him it’s because he keeps coming off. I said, ‘If I were you, I would be getting really angry with the coach for taking you off, if you’re fit enough to play for 80 minutes’. If you’re not fit enough to play for 80 minutes, you shouldn’t be in the team.
I don’t like seeing George coming off with 20 minutes or more remaining and then England lose on the bell. It’s not a good look. I’m sorry to say it’s become a trend. A captain should start and finish. It’s a simple equation.
I was lucky because I had Dallaglio and Martin Johnson, both of whom I would never dream of taking off. The one guy who never comes off, for club or country, is Maro Itoje.
He captains Saracens and for me he should captain England. For George, the switch could inspire a similar turn around as Joe Root discovered when relieved of England cricket’s captaincy in favour of Ben Stokes.
In my column last week I made a case for Fin Smith playing at 12, alongside Tommy Freeman. I stand by that but there is also a case for thinking outside of the box. Inside centre is a problem position for England; I’m not convinced by Slade or Ollie Lawrence.
There are plenty of guys Borthwick could try there but what about looking to rugby league? Guys in league have said Herbie Farnworth would walk into a XVs team so let’s have a conversation with him.
Why not bring over Herbie Farnworth from rugby league? He could be a solution at No 12
I’m not convinced by Henry Slade or Ollie Lawrence at inside center, so let’s get creative
There’s a lot of negative headlines about rugby but there are some plays Borthwick could make to get the public really excited. George Hendy could get the crowd on their feet at full-back. I feel for Borthwick because he’s going to be asked a lot of questions about politics and it could be an awkward press conference.
There’s the Bill Sweeney bonus row, club-country agreements, whether or not Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has an operation… it’s all a big distraction.
There really should be a director of rugby beside him to answer those questions when they inevitably come up. He’s left totally open and for a young coach that’s a big ask.
England have fantastic players on paper but first they’ve got to be selected and then they’ve got to be coached right. That’s all I want to hear Borthwick talking about.
