I was impressed by the way England beat Australia. The Wallabies tried to play them at a power game, but Steve Borthwick can call on a big pack and the Wallabies got brutalised.
With my Japan team this week, we need to learn from that and try to play the game quickly. We need to think outside the box. I like innovative tactics, but not things that are against the spirit of rugby.
I don’t look back on Italy’s visit to Twickenham in 2017 with fond memories. That year, the Azzurri caused chaos by not competing at the ruck. That meant there was no offside line, allowing Italian players to stand in the back line of the English team I was coaching.
Rugby’s a competitive game. And by not competing, Italy destroyed the game. That day, James Haskell said to the referee: ‘I just wanted to know what the exact rule is?’ I reminded him about that when I saw him this week. I think he regrets saying that!
You won’t be seeing any funny business like that from my Japan team, not least because the laws on the ruck and offside have changed a lot since then.
I had seven great years as England coach and have brilliant memories from my time at the RFU. That’s why I’ve loved being back in London this week. One of the best things about being here is the fish and chips. On Sunday night, after I watched England beat Australia, I went to a chippy in Teddington, just next to the King’s Head pub, with Nigel Ashley-Jones who is the Wallabies’ strength and conditioning coach.
I’ve had a busy week ahead of leading my Japan side into battle with England on Saturday at Twickenham
I don’t look back fondly on Italy’s tactics at Twickenham in the 2017 Six Nations – James Haskell (left) had to ask the referee what the rules were!
Nigel was at Saracens with me, so we go way back. We didn’t go to the pub. Nigel doesn’t drink. He’s crazy enough without alcohol, so we just stuck to the fish and chips.
When I’m in Japan, my diet is mainly sushi, sashimi and rice-based dishes, so I enjoy a bit of traditional English stodge when I’m back – bangers and mash and a good cup of tea. A Sunday night chippy was the perfect start to a big week ahead of going head-to-head with my old team England this weekend.
The English are generally pretty kind and I was at Twickenham for the Australia game, so I’m expecting a good reception. I got sacked by the RFU in 2022. Like most things in life, it ended badly. But I don’t harbour any resentment towards Bill Sweeney, the chief executive, or anyone else there.
It’s been like a trip down memory lane this week. We’ve been based at the Lensbury Hotel in Teddington with Japan – a venue where we’d often stay with England when I was in charge.
During Covid, I lived at the hotel for a bit while my wife was in Japan, so I know the place like the back of my hand. That was a funny old time. I’d eat all of my meals in the hotel. The waiters used to know my order, but the staff has changed now. One night during the pandemic I was pretty much the only guest and I got a bang on the door in the middle of the night. The security officer was checking if I was OK as a load of kids had broken in and were running amok around the place.
It’s been a busy week, getting our preparations for England right and catching up with some familiar faces. I saw two of my old players, Haskell and Jonny May, and we retold old tour stories. I haven’t laughed so hard in ages.
Dylan Hartley, the man I appointed England captain, also came into our camp. With Japan, we have a young leadership group, so Dylan passed on a few tips.
Dylan was a rough, tough guy who hailed from Rotorua in New Zealand. Many people were surprised when I made him captain given his poor disciplinary record. But Dylan had captaincy down to a fine art. He would get the team organised and he was very good at delegating responsibility and staying in touch with his fellow leaders. I always try to see him when I’m in England anyway, so it was great he could pass on his tips to my Japanese players.
I met up with my old mate Haskell this week – I haven’t laughed so much in ages!
I also had my old captain Dylan Hartley come into camp to give my Japan players some tips
I’ve had two outstanding coaches – Borthwick is one of them
Over the years, I’ve had two coaches that have really stood out. One is Steve. The other is Ewen McKenzie, my assistant with Australia. Both are highly intelligent and organised.
I remember the first time I met Steve. I’d joined Saracens in 2006 as an adviser and I was doing some recruitment for them for the following season. I asked those in the know who was the best captain in England. The overwhelming response was: ‘Steve Borthwick at Bath.’
So, I met Steve at a hotel somewhere between London and Bath. It was in the days when you could get away with tapping people up!
Steve arrived with a book as thick as my arm and a long list of questions. About an hour in, I had to stop the meeting. ‘Steve, mate,’ I said. ‘Hang on a minute. I’m supposed to be interviewing you, not the other way round!’ That’s Steve: meticulous, driven and very switched on.
He came under some heat last week, but the way his team responded told me a lot about how England’s players see Steve.
When the England and Australia teams ran out, I heard Nick Mullins on ITV saying how important this month is for English rugby. That’s always been the case. When you’re England coach, every campaign is make or break. It’s just the way it goes.
Win and you’re the best thing since sliced bread. That’s what England are this week. Lose, and you don’t have a clue what you’re doing. The margins between the two are very small.
As opposing coaches, I won’t catch up with Steve this week. But I hope to see him during the finals week of the Nations Championship when all 12 teams will be back in London.
Steve Borthwick came under some heat last week, but the way his team responded against Australia told me a lot about how England’s players see Steve
Steve is meticulous, driven, very switched on and one of the best two coaches I’ve worked with
A visit from Eddie Howe
We’ve had a fair few visitors to Japan training this week. Dylan was one. We’ve had the scrum coach from Toulouse and the head coach of the Sweden rugby team, Alex Laybourne, who is English.
Oh, and there was Eddie Howe too. The former Newcastle United manager came in to experience a rugby environment, and had some really good ideas on leadership. I was hoping he would give some insight into whether he was going to get the Manchester United job, but I didn’t get much out of him! Eddie is a very sincere man, a deep thinker. He reminds me a lot of Sir Gareth Southgate in the way he leads.
Football managers have to get used to being sacked. It’s an occupational hazard. I’ve experienced that in rugby, too. In the past, the jobs I’ve taken next have not been good decisions. I rushed into them, just because I wanted to get back coaching.
I don’t know what Eddie’s plans are, but I got the feeling that because of the good job he did at Newcastle, he can sit back and wait for the right next move.
My experience, albeit in a different sport, tells me that’s the right call. Whoever goes into Manchester United next, it might be fantastic. But it might also be a continuation of what’s been happening there.
There are obviously bigger problems at Old Trafford than just who is the manager. That’s been shown by the club underperforming for a long time now.
Eddie Howe came into our Japan camp this week too. I was hoping he would give some insight into the Manchester United job, but I didn’t get much information out of him!
It’s great to see Will back in England fold
I’m delighted to see Will Joseph back in the England team this weekend.
You have to take a punt on young guys. That’s what I did with Joseph when I took him to Australia as an apprentice in 2022, when he ended up winning his lone cap in the second Test victory in Brisbane.
Henry Arundell was another apprentice on that trip. I’m a bit disappointed we’re not seeing more of him but sometimes, talent takes time to develop.
Joseph is a beautiful player with great timing on the ball and good strength. Whether he’s at wing or centre, he’s got the pace to really trouble opposition defences. He runs very good lines. I’m pleased to see him doing well this season and he’s been rewarded for his PREM form with Gloucester. He’s a great kid.
I coached his older brother Jonathan with England, too, and they’re completely different.
‘JJ’ was such an effortless player. He glided over the pitch, so gifted and laidback. Will is more determined, a bit more urgent about things. He’s someone who I want to see do well. Just not this weekend!
Will Joseph (centre) is a beautiful player with great timing on the ball and good strength. Whether he’s at wing or centre, he’s got the pace to really trouble opposition defences
I coached his older brother Jonathan too – they’re very different players!
Marcus is a maverick – and mavericks need time to shine
I’ve got a lot of affection for Marcus Smith. I first saw him at Brighton College and brought him into the England setup at 18. I’m probably a bit disappointed he hasn’t kicked on more, having been the starting No10 in my last campaign with England.
Fin Smith seems to now be the England fly-half. Fin is not yet an established international 10. There has been a lot of chopping and changing in that position with the two Smiths and George Ford.
That’s been the reason for the complaint about the England team not having an established identity. There is merit in that.
But the team’s attacking identity will evolve the more Fin plays. England will likely play more and more like Northampton, the more Fin is guiding the ship.
With Marcus, he just needed a longer run of Tests. If you look at the history of Test rugby, the most talented No 10s take time to develop. It’s the more pragmatic players who adapt quicker.
The same is true in Test cricket. The big stroke-makers don’t always succeed straight away, whereas the more pragmatic batsmen do.
With Marcus Smith, he just needed a longer run of Tests. If you look at the history of Test rugby, the most talented No 10s take time to develop
Marcus is similar to Richie Mo’unga, the All Blacks playmaker. Both have supreme ability. But Mo’unga has more than 50 caps now and he’s still in and out of the team
Marcus is very similar to Richie Mo’unga, the All Blacks playmaker. Both have supreme ability, but Mo’unga has more than 50 New Zealand caps now and he’s still in and out of the team.
In 2021, I compared Marcus to the British tennis star Emma Raducanu, whose performances I felt had been undermined by commercial distractions. Those are the challenges all young sportsmen and women in England face. I spoke to Marcus about them in private.
At the moment, I’m not sure how Marcus gets into England’s starting XV. What I do know is he has become an outstanding utility player.
He can play 9, 10 or 15. He kicks goals. He plays with great energy. He’s a perfect guy for the No23 shirt on the bench and is still really important to England.
