England will welcome two new coaching faces for the Six Nations, but Steve Borthwick’s search for backroom staff will continue.
Andrew Strawbridge will arrive as a skills consultant for the first month of the Six Nations to add to Felix Jones’s installation as defence specialist.
Kevin Sinfield will switch from defence to a skills and kicking role, but the rugby league great will then depart the England set-up in the summer.
England will lose a master motivator and a key backroom character, whose drive for excellence and will to win will be tough to replace.
Head coach Borthwick will take an open-minded approach to completing England’s coaching set-up after the summer’s tour to Japan and New Zealand.
When Sinfield leaves in August, Borthwick will not need a direct replacement, but England will want an extra coach in terms of numbers — and between now and then the head coach has time to weigh up exactly what role will complement the rest of his backroom team.
England could look to recruit a full-time skills specialist, with a wider remit that would in effect look at elements of every area of the game. Borthwick may, however, decide that another pair of hands is required in attack.
While Sinfield has seen his role shift from defence to skills and kicking for the remainder of his time with England, Richard Wigglesworth has retained control of the attack, with Borthwick delivering a show of faith in the former England scrum-half.
Now the 40-year-old will go all-out to repay that backing, as England look to remodel their attack at the start of new World Cup cycle.
England made no secret of their drive to simplify all aspects of their approach for last year’s World Cup in France.
Borthwick’s new coaching regime had little time to layer on anything more complicated, and a third-place finish in a 10-month build-up remains an impressive return. But now, with the time to match resources, England have no choice but to expand, deepen and sharpen their attacking approach.
Borthwick will not lean away from the regimented rudiments that underpinned England’s World Cup campaign. He will instead add on the extra elements that he believes will be required to put England at the vanguard of Test rugby attacking.
Wigglesworth remains a key lieutenant in that drive, having retired from playing to replace Borthwick as head coach at Leicester in December 2022.
The former Saracens and Tigers half-back then joined England for the World Cup. England’s attack improved throughout the World Cup and Borthwick will expect further steady progress in future.
A long-term new addition to the England set-up could still be an experienced attack specialist to bolster Wigglesworth’s work.
Borthwick confirmed it was Sinfield’s decision to leave England’s set-up, but equally the head coach admitted he did not try to change the former Leeds Rhino’s mind. Sinfield’s departure will leave a space in England’s set-up for a coach of great presence. A senior figure, though not a group leader, will be required to round out England’s ranks in the long term.
"England’s coaching staff might remain in flux for some time, but Borthwick will see that as an opportunity rather than a concern"
Strawbridge is the newest face to arrive, with the former All Blacks consultant on hand for the next month to help hone England’s skills.
Borthwick has wanted to work with the former Waikato man for some time, admitting a bid to take him to Leicester had been thwarted by Covid. An initial short-term stint could clearly lead to a more permanent role in future, given Borthwick’s regard for the 59-year-old.
Sinfield’s summer exit speaks volumes on the demands of Test coaching. A five-month stint away from home for the World Cup represents the most punishing campaign in the Test arena, but the continued expectations remained an issue for Sinfield.
The 43-year-old remains fully committed to fundraising for Motor Neurone Disease in search of a cure and to support his best friend and ex-Leeds team-mate Rob Burrow.
England’s coaching staff might remain in flux for some time, but Borthwick will see that as an opportunity rather than a concern.
