England’s new rugby boss Borthwick wants to revive Twickenham ‘roar’

Steve Borthwick

TWICKENHAM, AFP: Steve Borthwick vowed to get Twickenham “roaring” after being appointed as the new head coach of the England rugby team on Monday with just nine months to revive their flagging fortunes until the 2023 World Cup.

Former England captain Borthwick, previously in charge of Premiership champions Leicester, has succeeded veteran coach Eddie Jones after the Australian was sacked following England’s worst year of results since 2008, managing only five wins from 12 games.

“To be appointed to this role fills me with incredible pride and I’m honoured to take on this job,” Borthwick, told a Twickenham news conference on Monday. “Now I know that pride will count for nothing if we don’t deliver,” added Borthwick, who spent five years as an England assistant coach under Jones.

He also explained how he wanted the team to reconnect with their fans after Jones’ last match in charge, a 27-13 defeat by world champions South Africa, ended with England booed off the pitch at Twickenham.

The 43-year-old Borthwick, who made his Test debut in 2001, said: “The stadium has changed a bit since that point. But from that day the thing that will always stick in my mind is as you stepped outside the tunnel, the noise that hits you in this stadium.”