Nick Evans believes his coaching style is far more similar to Steve Borthwick's than many people realise.
Harlequins assistant Evans will act as England’s attack coach for the Six Nations in new boss Borthwick's first campaign at the Test helm.
Evans helped Quins claim 2021 Gallagher Premiership glory, while Borthwick led Leicester's 2022 title triumph.
Harlequins' high-octane attack can appear at odds with Leicester's powerful pragmatism - but Evans insisted the two sides' title successes actually have far more similarities than differences.
"The year we won the Premiership, we kicked the most," said Evans. "We won the kicking metres on the most occasions.
"The year that Leicester won the Premiership, they won the kicking metres. There are no rabbit holes around that but there’s a certain way that lends you more to winning tier-one Test matches.
"There’s certainly a similarity between the two programs that won the Premiership. Maybe there’s a perception that they look different but there are a lot more similarities when you delve into the data and the detail.
"From my conversations with Steve we were very much aligned. I thought it would be that way and I enjoyed that it was."
Borthwick has canvassed England’s senior players for information on predecessor Eddie Jones' gameplans. The new boss has then been working at double speed to put his own stamp on England’s tactical approach.
Evans will help Borthwick and his number two Kevin Sinfield hone England’s attacking blueprints. With the Six Nations starting on February 4 when England host Scotland however, the new Test set-up has precious little time or scope for wide-ranging change.
"There’s just not enough time to change everything, and anyway I don’t think everything needs changing," said Evans. "My focus is around bringing energy when we have ball in hand, and bringing clarity around ball in hand, and working closely with Kevin around the opposite side of the ball.
"And then obviously around how we kick and how we exit. I imagine there might be people thinking naively that there’s just a taking of the Harlequins structure that will be thrown into England. And I don’t think that will work. Well I know that won’t work.
"So it’s just taking little bits where I can add, and having real alignment with the coaches around the style that we want to play and how we want to play, and the mindset in how we want to play in all areas."
