Six Nations: Steve Borthwick says England 'weren't good at anything' when he took over

1 year ago 110

Steve Borthwick watches England warming up

Steve Borthwick says England "weren't bully astatine anything" erstwhile helium took implicit from Eddie Jones arsenic caput coach.

Borthwick was appointed successful December aft Jones' sacking, the culmination of a mediocre 2022 successful which England won conscionable 5 of 12 Tests.

On Saturday, they started the Borthwick epoch with a 29-23 defeat by Scotland successful their Six Nations opener.

"I've been frank from time 1 successful saying there's a batch of enactment to do," said the erstwhile Leicester caput coach.

"When I looked astatine the squad successful the autumn, erstwhile I measured the squad and got each the information for the team, we weren't bully astatine anything. It was arsenic frank arsenic that.

"So we are trying to physique immoderate strengths successful this squad and immoderate bits we are pleased astir and immoderate bits we are disappointed about. My occupation is to marque definite we get immoderate improvements for Italy."

Borthwick had spent conscionable 11 days successful campy with his players anterior to getting their Six Nations nether mode astatine Twickenham connected Saturday with a 3rd successive Calcutta Cup defeat.

After the match, the caller caput manager said his squad person "to spell done immoderate pain" successful bid to grow, but aboriginal praised his charges for their "magnificent response" aft conceding points against Scotland.

England volition big Italy arsenic beardown favourites successful their adjacent crippled connected Sunday.

"There are aggregate areas we person tried to change. You saw immoderate betterment successful the scrum against Scotland which I was pleased astir due to the fact that it has been ranked arsenic the worst scrum successful tier-one rugby," said Borthwick.

"We saw immoderate improvements successful the onslaught and velocity of shot and we tried to amended the breakdown wherever England were ranked the ninth quickest, truthful 1 of the slowest successful tier one.

"I'd seen a wont wrong the squad of conceding points aboriginal and not being capable to respond to it. We conceded points against Scotland and the biggest happening I was looking astatine was the response. I thought the effect was magnificent."

He added: "I consciousness disappointed with the result. I asked the players to bash immoderate things differently. I person asked the players to play a caller way.

"I person got to get the players to judge successful themselves and get the players to bring their strengths to the pitch.

"I privation them to play to the champion of themselves, which we haven't seen them bash for a while. I deliberation you saw an betterment successful that respect against Scotland."