England fans are all saying the same thing about the coach Steve Borthwick wants to recruit before the November internationals

Lawrence Nolan
Lee Blackett

England head coach Steve Borthwick

Media reports claiming that Steve Borthwick wants to hire Lee Blackett as the full-time England attack coach have left fans all saying the same thing on social media.

It was last April when Borthwick announced that Blackett, who coached England A last November, would step in for the England senior summer tour to the Americas while Richard Wigglesworth was on duty as an assistant coach with the British and Irish Lions in Australia.

Blackett went on to arrive on tour as a Premiership title-winning coach after Bath defeated Leicester in the final in June. He then linked up with England, helping them to a 2-0 Test series win in Argentina that was followed by a comfortable success in the USA.

The uptick in the threat of the England attack impressed Borthwick, and it has now been reported that Blackett is wanted on a full-time basis, a recruitment that would see Wigglesworth switch to defence with Joe El-Abd moving to a strategic role with the forwards.

“Knew this was going to happen after the summer…”

Getting Blackett on board could be tricky. It was only seven months ago when he signed what Bath described as a “long-term contract extension” at the club he joined at the start of the 2023/24 season, having previously coached at Scarlets, Wasps and Rotherham.

Blackett said at the time: “I’m so pleased to renew with the club, and I’m so excited to continue the journey.” However, he is now on Borthwick’s radar with the countdown on for the autumn internationals. That four-game series begins against Australia on November 1, and it also features games against Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina.

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The news that England want Blackett on their coaching ticket has garnered universal approval from English fans, who have been effusive in their online praise of the Bath assistant:

@Wine_And_Rugby: “This would be awesome. The team spirit in Arg/USA was really positive going forward. Players like (Joe) Heyes stepped to Test standard, but its fluidity in attack and most importantly for England, transition from hard defence to flowing attack that impressed. That’s LB.”

@Tongantwave67: “Really conflicted about this. He has done a lot to make Bath’s attack more fluent, so would hate to lose him without a quality replacement at the ready… but England really need him too!”

@SFCBenW: “Knew this was going to happen after the summer. As a Bath fan, gutted. As an England fan, thrilled.”

@BenBradford5: “Terrific news! The attack looked so smooth against Argentina, with him leading it.”

@Johngoosey1John: “If they secure his signature, get some £££ on the WC before prices go up – he’s that good. He is a breath of fresh air. No accident Wasps and Bath played exciting attacking rugby. Heard an interview with Bath players, they love him and are signed up to his philosophy.”

@18stephenm: “Think after the summer seemed obvious England were going to try and get him. I’d imagine they’d have to pay Bath a fair old whack to get him, though. Only really surprised is Wigglesworth to defence rather than (Byron) McGuigan!

@KevinFCoughlan: “He never moved down to Bath from Leicestershire, so not a great surprise. But the recognition is well deserved. I would guess that Bath will want to secure a replacement before letting him go. That search will be global, and I can think of one obvious candidate.”

@_PhilWorld: “This would be a great move for England. Blackett runs a great attack.”

@Leap_year_man: “Fantastic news. Wasps were arguably the best attacking side in the Prem under Blackett and already saw the shoots of our attacking play becoming more coherent during the tour to Argentina.”

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