Former England star Austin Healey has unleashed a stinging critique of Steve Borthwick’s leadership, questioning if he’s truly the man for the job.
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Healey, never one to shy away from controversy, compared Borthwick to the game’s elite coaches and found him lacking, particularly after England’s shaky Autumn Nations Series campaign.
But here’s the kicker: Healey didn’t just stop at criticism—he’s floated a shocking alternative. The ex-Red Rose back has named an Australian coach as a potential successor, a move bound to stir the rugby pot.
“When you see all the footage of England training, Borthwick is on the pitch in a tracksuit, running around and he’s tight, he’s in the areas, he’s looking at the detail,” he told TNT Sports.
“For me, a top guy is the guy who’s stood on the scaffolding looking down and getting the bigger picture. You put Michael Cheika there, you put Joe Schmidt there, you put Rassie Erasmus there.
“I think that for me is probably a better combination.”
Healey continued: ““For me, Borthwick made some fundamental mistakes in the Autumn Nations Series,” he said.
“He named a side against the All Blacks on a Tuesday – never ever do that, that is a ridiculous thing to do. Never, ever do that, unless you’re out-and-out favourites to win.
“There’s just no point doing it, it doesn’t benefit you in any way. He followed a pre-contrived substitution with 20 minutes to go against New Zealand and took off a kicker who hadn’t missed off the tee and was playing good rugby, to put somebody on who hadn’t played rugby for six weeks.
“He started an outside centre in a defensive system who hadn’t played rugby all season – he had 50 minutes of rugby. These are fundamental errors that cause losses.
“Would a Cheika, would a Schmidt, would an Erasmus have done that? I don’t think he would, because he’s stepped back from that detail and has a bit more of an overview of the whole scenario, and I think that’s the mistake that Borthwick has made.”
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Is Borthwick’s Job on the Line?
The pressure is mounting for Steve Borthwick, and it’s not far-fetched to think his job could be at risk. The odds of the next England coach show just how much uncertainty surrounds his future:
- Stuart Lancaster – 2/1
- Sir Clive Woodward – 40/1
- Phil Dawson – 20/1
- Rob Baxter – 18/1
- Andy Farrell – 15/1
- Michael Cheika – 12/1
- Ronan O’Gara – 10/1
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2025 Six Nations fixtures confirmed, England handed worst possible start
As per this year, the 2025 Championship will see BBC and ITV sharing coverage in the UK, with S4C offering Welsh language options. France Television will be the home of the Championship for French fans, RTE and Virgin Media will once again cover the games in Ireland.
In Italy, Sky Italia will continue their coverage of the Championship in 2025. The host broadcast coverage will also be complemented by widespread international broadcast coverage and a World Feed service.
2025 Siz Nations Fixtures
ROUND 1
- Friday 31 January
- France vs Wales – 8.15pm
- Saturday 1 February
- Scotland vs Italy – 2.15pm
- Ireland vs England – 4.45pm
ROUND 2
- Saturday 8 February
- Italy vs Wales – 2.15pm
- England vs France – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 February
- Scotland vs Ireland – 3pm
ROUND 3
- Saturday 22 February
- Wales vs Ireland – 2.15pm
- England vs Scotland – 4.45pm
- Sunday 23 February
- Italy vs France – 3pm
ROUND 4
- Saturday 8 March
- Ireland vs France – 2.15pm
- Scotland vs Wales – 4.45pm
- Sunday 9 March
- England vs Italy – 3pm
ROUND 5
- Saturday 15 March
- Italy vs Ireland – 2.15pm
- Wales vs England – 4.45pm
- France vs Scotland – 8pm
NAME EVERY PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CLUB:
London Welsh were the last new team to play in the Gallagher Premiership back in 2011 – can you name the others?
You have five minutes to name every club to have played in the Gallagher Premiership, all 28 of them, since the division was established back in 1987.
It’s more difficult than it sounds.
Good luck, and let us know how you do
