Rarely one to pass an opportunity to criticise Eddie Jones, Sir Clive Woodward didn't let Steve Borthwick's unveiling as England's new head coach pass without one final put-down of his predecessor.
With less than a year until the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off, Borthwick has been bailed from his contract as Leicester Tigers boss to lead the national rugby team in France next year. Such a drastic decision so close to the sport's mecca didn't come lightly, though Woodward has suggested former England captain Borthwick—who has signed a five-year contract—finds himself in "the perfect scenario."
The same can't be said for Jones, who has received a 'six-figure sum' as severance for having his deal terminated one year early. While Woodward was buoyed to see some players defend Jones, he suggested the RFU had little choice but to execute change following a period of severe stagnation.
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"I think a lot of those players [who have complimented Jones] will soon realise there are different ways of doing things," the ex- British and Irish Lions coach wrote for the Daily Mail, in what may be the last in a long line of dismal diagnoses regarding Jones' time in charge of the national team. "England have been treading water since the 2019 World Cup.
"Last month they lost to Argentina and were hammered by a South Africa side without nine key men. There had to be a change and the RFU have made the right call."
Borthwick, 43, has a little more than six weeks to prepare for his first game at the England helm when they host Scotland in the 2023 Six Nations on February 4. Jones won just four of his final 10 fixtures in the tournament, so improvement in the continental contest will be Borthwick's first priority.
Woodward did find room to praise Jones for leading England to the 2019 World Cup final, as well as their three Six Nations titles in 2016, 2017 and 2020. However, he heartily looked forward to Borthwick as a "breath of fresh air" in the role.
"Borthwick runs an honest environment and the RFU should follow suit," Woodward continued. "We will now see an end to the merry-go-round of coaches under Jones. The turnover of players and staff was highly unsettling. The second thing Borthwick must get right is selection. It is obvious, but Jones got it badly wrong. He wasn't good at it."
If Borthwick's two-and-a-half-season stay at Welford Road is anything to go by, there's every chance he can instil swift success. The former lock delivered Leicester their first Premiership title in nine years after just two seasons as a head coach, helping the Tigers rediscover their old bite in no time at all.
There was some consensus England had grown somewhat long in the tooth under Jones, and many pundits have agreed the change in personnel is a risk worth taking. However, Woodward must find a fresh target for his frustrations if Borthwick can't provide hasty solutions, with Jones soon to no longer be culpable for the team's shortcomings.
