Steve Borthwick slams previous England regimes over fear factor and insists his side are different

Head coach Steve Borthwick believes that there is a different feel around the current England camp in comparison to previous teams.

The 44-year-old, who took over from Eddie Jones in December 2022, insists that the fear factor has now gone and that players are free to express themselves.

Jones was criticised for ruling with an iron fist, while there have also been concerns that other bosses have put the shackles on Red Rose sides, as well as certain individuals.

Borthwick insists that is not the case with this outfit and is confident that it will yield positive results during his reign.

The challenge for the head coach

“Fundamentally, this is one of the challenges right now. For a long time, players – and I felt this as a player, I felt it as squads I was a part of with England for a long time – is the possibility of making a mistake and the ramifications of it,” he told reporters.

“I have seen this with players I played with and teams I was part of, not bringing all their strengths onto the pitch for fear of a mistake.

“What I see in this group of players now is a group of players that is just determined to do well, has incredible skill level, but we are going to make mistakes.

“It’s a new team, and it’s ensuring the players understand we are going to learn from them, and we are going to keep getting better, and I keep wanting you to want more.

“I want you to have a go, I want you to bring your strengths, whatever it is, bring your strengths onto the pitch and we are going to try and decrease that concern, that worry that has been in teams previously.

“That’s my personal experience of seeing players playing with England. I want them to come and put a white shirt on and grow to be even better. I want a white shirt to help them be even better, even stronger than they have been before.”

Captain agrees

Captain Jamie George was in agreement with his boss after playing prominently under Jones.

George made his debut in 2015 when Stuart Lancaster was at the helm, but became a key figure following that year’s World Cup.

“Yeah, that certainly has been the case previously,” he said.

“When Steve and I met a few weeks ago we were talking around that. I don’t necessarily think it’s risk, it’s having the courage to execute the game plan as best as you can.

“That’s probably what we are talking about, and what we are very lucky to have is a coaching staff that are very clear about how we go after things, and as players, that just means we have the courage to go and do it.

“Sometimes, at the highest level, pressure comes on, and you almost just want to sit back and worry about not making a mistake, as has been the case previously.

“What pleased me the most (against Italy) was we got cut a couple of times in the first half; did it take anything away from our line speed? Absolutely not. We had the courage to go after them again.”

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