LONDON (AP) — England rugby coach Steve Borthwick is happy with the culture he has created in the squad, following damning comments by former international Danny Care about the previous regime led by Eddie Jones.
In his autobiography being serialized in The Times of London, Care said the England camp under Jones — the coach from 2015-22 — was “like living in a dictatorship, under a despot who disappeared people.”
“Remember what it felt like when someone was being bullied at school and you were just glad it wasn’t you?” wrote Care, who is now retired from international rugby. “That was the vibe.”
Borthwick worked as an assistant coach under Jones with Japan and England, before eventually replacing the Australian to take charge of England two years ago.
While declining to “talk about somebody’s experience” in reference to Care’s claims, Borthwick insists he has created a culture where his players are allowed their voices.
Asked if he is challenged by his squad, Borthwick replied: “There are plenty of times where we have ideas and we discuss them. It’s almost on a daily basis. I’ll be chatting with players and bouncing ideas around and then things get moulded, adapted and improved.
“The players are the ones on the pitch who know the game better than anyone else. The best players are the best coaches and luckily we have some great, great minds in this group. In this autumn we’ve had a notable step forward in terms of the players speaking in team meetings, sharing their opinions. I’m trying to create an environment that is right for this group at this time.”
Borthwick said his England set-up is subject to regular oversight from Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney and executive director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea, as well as being open to visitors from the wider game.
Jones is currently coach of Japan, which plays France on Saturday. England plays Australia at Twickenham on the same day.
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