Warburton backs ‘phenomenal’ coach Borthwick to rejuvenate England and launch Six Nations title bid

Two-time Lions captain Sam Warburton believes Steve Borthwick can bring the good times back to English rugby and launch a Six Nations title bid in what could be a “honeymoon” first campaign.

Borthwick took over as England head coach from the sacked Eddie Jones in December and this week named his first team ahead of the 2023 Championship which begins next month.

Warburton, a former winger and captain for Wales, worked with Borthwick when he was an assistant coach on the Lions’ 2017 tour of New Zealand.

“To show how much I think of him (Borthwick), I remember meeting one of the Lions’ main guys after the 2017 tour and he asked me who impressed me out of the coaches,” Warburton said.

“I remember telling them they should make sure he was on the next Lions tour. He is a phenomenal trainer. They had never coached me in line-out as well.

“I loved the level of detail he brought to it. I think it’s a great appointment from England.

“He has already captained them, experienced that pressure, worked internationally and developed Leicester in such a short time.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question for England to win the Six Nations. I always thought they were very close with Eddie, but I wonder if it was a case of him being in the role too long.

“I look at the pool of England players and they can pick a package that can match anyone in world rugby.”

‘They have the tools to go and win. France and Ireland are certainly the favourites, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if England made a run, particularly in this honeymoon phase they find themselves in, and potentially clinched a championship. I just hope England sticks to their DNA.

‘The big missing part of your puzzle is getting your attack to click. They have to be clinical, just like Ireland. They are the best in the world without a doubt in terms of their precision in attack.

“If England can add a bit of stardust to their game then they won’t be far behind.”

Borthwick have already made their mark in England by bringing in new assistant coaches in Kevin Sinfield and Nick Evans to work in defense and attack respectively.

He also dropped Jones favorites Jack Nowell, Jonny May and Billy Vunipola from his first team when he confirmed England’s Six Nations party earlier this week.

Warburton believes Evans’ role is crucial and that Borthwick will abandon the midfield partnership of Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell that Jones favored last year.

“I would be more inclined to choose one or the other at the moment with the way international rugby is,” Warburton said. “I played against an England team who used Farrell and George Ford together very effectively, but you have to be realistic and that was six or eight years ago.”

‘The game has advanced. Being the captain, it looks like Farrell is 10 years old. I’d be surprised if they picked two playmakers looking at how Borthwick played for Leicester.

Bristol have had five Challenge Cup points deducted and been handed a suspended fine of €10,000 for selecting an ineligible player.

The Bears played Elliott Stooke against Perpignan and Zebre in December, just days after he joined after his former club Wasps went into administration. European rugby rules state that a player must be under contract to a club for a minimum of three months to play.

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