RUGBY UNION Eddie suffers first day knock
BORTHWICK BID BLOW
EDDIE JONES’ first day as England coach gave him a frustrating taste of just what to expect from the clubs.
The Aussie’s first request to the RFU at the start of his four-year reign was to hire Steve Borthwick, his World Cup assistant with Japan, as his forwards coach.
But Bristol have refused Twickenham permission to speak to the former England captain.
The Championship leaders, who lost Danny Wilson to Cardiff Blues in the summer, are not willing to lose another forwards coach so soon after his arrival.
And as Bristol are owned by billionaire Steve Lansdown, no amount of compensation is likely to change their minds.
If Bristol do not let him go, Borthwick may be forced to walk out on his two-year contract and risk being sued. But he is highly unlikely to pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and, even if it goes to court, Borthwick seems certain to become Jones’ right-hand man.
That will also signal the exit, after eight years with England, for Graham Rowntree. Dumped head coach Stuart Lancaster’s other assistants, Mike Catt and Andy Farrell, are set to follow.
The process of filling in the other pieces of the coaching puzzle has not yet started with Jones keen to tie down Borthwick first.
And that will complete a remarkable rise for the 36-year-old Cumbrian, who is only 18 months into his coaching career.
After finishing his 16 years as a player at the end of the 2014 season, Borthwick headed out to Japan to learn the coaching ropes under Jones, who he had played under at Saracens.
But the Brave Blossoms’ amazing World Cup campaign, which included a stunning group stage win over South Africa, made the 57-cap former England second row forward hot property. MIKE PHILLIPS, 33, Wales’ most-capped scrum-half, has announced his retirement from international rugby. He played in 99 Tests, 94 for Wales and five for the British and Irish Lions.