The Steve Borthwick gesture that ‘stunned’ Clive Woodward, who believes the current England squad ‘is the best since 2003’
Current England Steve Borthwick was a player when Clive Woodward, inset, was in charge
Clive Woodward has revealed how he was left “stunned” by how his recent hour-long interview with England head coach Steve Borthwick started at Pennyhill Park.
The 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning boss secured a visit to English rugby’s training HQ ahead of the latest Autumn Nations Series, which begins this Saturday against the Wallabies at Twickenham.
Woodward, who is now a Daily Mail columnist, was the coach who omitted Borthwick from his England squad 23 years ago that travelled to Australia to win the World Cup.
Two years earlier, Woodward’s team had blown a Grand Slam title by losing in Ireland, a match where the coach left Borthwick rooted and unused on the replacements bench.
“Just a brilliant way to start the conversation…”
Following that disastrous loss, Woodward wrote a letter to each of his players and Borthwick produced this keepsake at the start of the recent catch-up 24 years later.
Borthwick remarked there was “a lot of wisdom” in the letter, which at the bottom contained a handwritten message that read: “Well done. Great attitude all week. Close to starting in game versus Australia. Watching closely next two weeks.”
Being reminded of this blew Woodward away. “My initial reaction to receiving the letter from Borthwick told you everything. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe Borthwick had not only kept it for so long but also brought it along to our interview.
“It was just a brilliant way to start the conversation – one I had really looked forward to for such a long time. When he took on the England job in 2022, Borthwick phoned me and asked to meet.
“I was more than happy to share any help or advice I could give to a man I worked closely with in the past as a player and who I really wanted to succeed. Since then, we have met a number of times in private and stayed in regular contact. But this was our first public sit-down together.”
Borthwick explained: “That letter sticks out to me. I kept it amongst a lot of other things. Through the period I played under you, I remember making notes and thinking at the time it was a special environment. I wasn’t in the 2003 World Cup-winning squad.
“But I was involved in the preparation and observed the work you did to create an England team that was the best in the world. It was wonderful to be a part of that.
“Success leaves clues. You’re the only coach who has led the England men’s team to win the World Cup, so you are the most successful coach in English rugby history. It makes sense to me to talk to people like that.”
Woodward, who referenced how he sought out the advice of his predecessor Jack Rowell when he first took the reins, then revealed that Borthwick is the only England coach who has ever sounded him out for advice since he relinquished the role in 2004.
“Borthwick is the only England coach to have called me since I left. I do not say that to sound glib, but rather to emphasise the humility and confidence I believe it shows Borthwick has.
“I have been hugely impressed by England’s development under Borthwick to the point where the first and most important thing to do when we met this time was to congratulate him on the job he has done.”
Borthwick insisted that his goal is “to win the World Cup in 2027” and Woodward responded by claiming the current England team is the best since he was in charge more than two decades ago.
“My coaching experience tells me that to win a World Cup, you need to have a world-class player in every position in your team,” wrote Woodward. “And I think Borthwick is close to getting to that stage now, even if he is not quite there yet.
“His squad is the best, I believe, since 2003. He has enviable strength in depth to choose from across the board and England have won their last seven Tests. But to me, the team’s success in the past year has been about more than just results and names on a chart.
“Borthwick has his team playing in a way that I believe really is capable of making them World Cup contenders. I’ve always maintained that in Test rugby, speed is key. For too long, England have been too slow. Not now.
“Borthwick has brought an all-court game back to English rugby. Not only has it been successful, it has been good to watch too. That’s vital. But it can still go up a notch and that is where selection comes in. I cannot help but feel there is a big selection brewing that can take this team to the next level, just like Jason Robinson took my team to new heights.”
Johann van Graan gives forthright verdict on Ollie Lawrence ahead of England campaign
Woodward suggested there was a big decision to be made about fly-half, but felt the bigger conundrum was the midfield where his long-term preference would be to pair Tommy Freeman with the currently injured Seb Atkinson.
“There are a couple of positions where we are still waiting for someone to come and own the shirt,” admitted Borthwick. “Everyone can see centre is one of those areas. We have got a number of good players in that area, but we have got to ensure the right combination is there.
‘That is one of the things we are working on. Fraser Dingwall is a real glue player. A lot of the stuff he does you don’t see, but he makes other players around him better. Ollie Lawrence has the potential to be a different sort of 12 – a power runner.
“Max Ojomoh is playing well, and there is Seb Atkinson too who is unfortunately now injured. He was great in the summer. I was hugely impressed by him. His fitness is incredible. He is one of the fittest in the world.”
Woodward wrapped up his lengthy interview piece by claiming: “Borthwick’s England are ticking all the right boxes. They have a team full of young, talented players and an excellent squad culture.
“Borthwick’s attitude will rub off on those around him. It was also interesting for me to hear that he does still send the odd letter as coach, even in the modern world where WhatsApp and other forms of communication are more common. The sky is the limit for this England team. I wish Borthwick and his players all the best in the next month and beyond.”
