OPINION
'Lighten up and be a man of influence' - the festive issues facing Steve Borthwick
What must the England coach address as a new year and a new World Cup cycle begins?
Mick Cleary Mick Cleary was sports feature writer for The Observer from 1988-1997 covering Wimbledon, Tour de France, F1, cricket, golf, athletics and horse racing. In 1997 he became Chief Rugby Correspondent of The Daily Telegraph. He has covered eight Rugby World Cups as well as seven Lions tours. Cleary has also written several books on the sport.
OPINION
Revitalised Bath have 'puncher's chance' in European quest
After so long in the doldrums, a 'well-balanced' Bath side look 'in reasonable shape' for a tilt at honours
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Andy Farrell gets it. Head and heart in perfect alignment. Get him in the job now.'
With the Rugby World Cup filed away, attention will soon turn to the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, and the planning nee…
OPINION
It's time to let the England players take French leave
Economic forces have forced the likes of Henry Arundell and Jack Willis over the channel to France and they shouldn't be published…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'The RFU need to give the English public some assurance that things can get better'
Steve Borthwick's side have put respectability into the shirt but it is a mirage to suggest all in rosy in England's garden
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'What has changed is that England have regained respect'
England's ills are not entirely cured but they made a huge step in the right direction against the world champion Springboks
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Owen Farrell is not to everyone’s taste but he is a scrapper beyond compare'
Unbeaten yet unfancied, England have taken on the mantle as rank underdogs against the Springboks after navigating Fijian fire
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'What price would England supporters give for some swagger'
Steve Borthwick's men are eking out results but their fans worry what will happen when they play one of the tournament's thoroughb…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Why not organise a Lions tour to South America'
The presence of three South American countries at the World Cup for the first time raises hopes that one day, the Lions will tour …
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'England are finally at the World Cup party.'
Steve Borthwick's men showed they could cut loose with careless abandon, the question now is whether they have to revert to type
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'England were laboured, hyper-pragmatic and damn lucky to break Japan’s resistance.'
Steve Borthwick's side continue to frustrate, with their uninspiring gameplan but they are eking out the wins and building momentu…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'George Ford has to stay as the starting No 10. It is as straightforward as that.'
Finally, England showed their hand, and put in a gritty, savvy performance to get their show back on the road
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'This was England at home. This was Twickenham. This was supposed to be a joyous send-off.'
Steve Borthwick's men signed off a woeful series of World Cup warm-up games with a loss to the joyful Fijians, and could have no c…
ANALYSIS
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick has to bring some self-discipline to proceedings. A bit of joy wouldn’t go amiss either.'
England's preparation ahead of the World Cup has been a disaster but a fortuitous draw means all is not lost
ANALYSIS
Mick Cleary: 'Farrell should be banned and for the full term. This was a misjudgement too far.'
England rallied for a scrappy win against a second-choice Wales side but the non-performance was troubling
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Only way is up for death-by-data England'
England fans will have every digit crossed after Steve Borthwick named his World Cup squad, writes Mick Cleary.
OPINION
Mick Cleary: My 33-man England squad for France 2023
Steve Borthwick will name his England squad for the Rugby World Cup in a matter of days and there are huge decisions to be made
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick's men are outsiders, a rare state of affairs for an England side heading into a World Cup'
A workmanlike squad full of toilers built in the image of their coach, England are rank outsiders for World Cup glory but that may…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'You don’t win a World Cup without a top-class scrum-half'
History has shown us that it is nigh on impossible to lift a World Cup without a stellar 9, so are England any closer to knowing w…
OPINION
'Rugby World Cup lends credibility to a sport battling grave issues'
As clubs go bust and player welfare concerns heighten, the Rugby World Cup remains a vital beacon of light.
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Sport, as we know, is one of life’s great escape mechanisms. Not in Premiership rugby it isn’t.'
It has been a chastening season in English rugby with yet another side on the brink and the hope is no more clubs perish
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Leicester don’t mess about when it comes to the scoreboard. You're either in front or a loser'
Tigers have battled their way from mid-table to be within a game of a Premiership final and they have a puncher's chance against S…
OPINION
Exeter ready themselves for one last hurrah before break-up
The Chiefs have had an inglorious season but one last heroic effort could extend the most emotional of goodbyes
OPINION
Is Luther Burrell the best thing to have happened to English rugby?
The damning report published by the RFU backed the former England centre to the hilt reinforcing that the game has to kick on and …
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'There has been a lot of negativity over the exodus of English players to France. It is time to find a solution.'
The parlous finances in Premiership rugby has forced players to head to France to earn a living but should that stunt their Englan…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'England have managed to re-kindle that most precious of things, a modicum of hope'
Steve Borthwick has had an uncomfortable first Six Nations campaign, but there were tentative signs of progress against Ireland
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'There was nothing to warm English hearts, nothing whatsoever.'
Steve Borthwick's men had a painful reality check in how far they had fallen behind the world's best side as France humiliated the…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'England may not gladden our souls but they are playing to type, just as Borthwick said they would'
Three games in and while not perfect, there are tentative signs of progress within the England camp after a forgettable afternoon …
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'Even Tom Curry will have to go some to reclaim that starting shirt. Willis is back in the frame'
England put some pride back into the shirt with a much-improved effort against an ambitious Italy side, but there is still work to…
OPINION
Mick Cleary: 'It is time to install Farrell as England's starting fly-half'
Steve Borthwick has been dealt a poor hand but now is not the time for bemoaning ill-fortune, there is a Six Nations to win
