Of all the buzzwords on which Steve Borthwick likes to lean, the concept of cohesion is one that the England head coach returns to more than just about any other. The idea of close connections and well-grooved combinations has been a theme of his tenure on and off the field, encouraging his squad to build links away from the pitch while placing great emphasis on continuity in selection on it.
The England boss looks enviously at a nation like Ireland, who can draw much of their 23 from a single side in Leinster. “There’s no doubt when you’re trying to build a team, building relationships and how often people play together is important,” Borthwick said after the opening round Six Nations defeat in Dublin. “You contrast us with Ireland and how often they play together. With Leinster, you see the model they’ve gone with, that consistency. It's certainly beneficial in the international environment to have players who've played together a number of times.”
