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Steve Borthwick back in Paris less than four weeks after World Cup
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick was reportedly back in Paris on Wednesday, 26 days after England defeated Argentina in the French capital to clinch a bronze medal finish at the Rugby World Cup.
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Amid speculation that he could reshuffle his coaching staff on the back of the imminent arrival of new assistant Felix Jones ahead of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, the head coach has been keeping busy since the finals ended less than four weeks ago.
Last Saturday he attended the Gallagher Premiership clash between Harlequins and Saracens in London and he is due in Newcastle next Sunday to take in their game versus Exeter. In the meantime, he visited the Racing 92 training ground on Wednesday in Paris.
That Top 14 club is now coached by Stuart Lancaster, the 2015 England World Cup boss, and they currently have apprentice Test winger Henry Arundell on their books after he joined them in the off-season following the financial collapse of London Irish.
Arundell played in two of England’s seven games at the recent World Cup and he remains eligible for Test selection next spring due to a one-season RFU dispensation.
A report in L’Equipe read: “Le Plessis-Robinson took on an even more English accent on Wednesday. Steve Borthwick, the coach of England who were third in the last World Cup, visited the facilities of Racing 92 and met with his compatriot Stuart Lancaster, manager of the Ile-de-France club and also the former boss of England (2011-2015).
“It was also an opportunity to talk to young international full-back Henry Arundell, whom his federation would like to see return home at the end of the season. But for the moment, no decision has been made about its future.”
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With Borthwick due to visit Kingston Park at the weekend, England defence coach Kevin Sinfield and team manager Richard Hill will be at Friday night’s Northampton versus Harlequins game.
Attack coach Richard Wigglesworth will also be busy on Friday attending Sale versus Bath, with scrum coach Tom Harrison set to be in London for Saturday’s Saracens versus Bristol fixture.
No confirmation has yet been given as to what role Jones, the recent World Cup-winning Springboks assistant, will have with Borthwick’s England.
There has been speculation that Sinfield won’t be kept on and that Wigglesworth could return to Leicester if Dan McKellar quits for the vacant Wallabies job.
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Meanwhile, Paul Gustard, the current Stade France assistant who worked alongside Borthwick during the early years of the Eddie Jones era, has also been linked with a potential England return.
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The writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
Go to commentsI would be surprised if Sales Opoku Fordjour and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman are not in the team, Anthony Watson is also one that could go on the wing. One thing I must say is that the front 3 will get destroyed against a team like South Africa.
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