Felix Jones has let Steve Borthwick and English rugby down. Big time.
So too has Aled Walters, but to a slightly lesser degree. Their departures from the national set-up in the last few weeks have thrown the side’s progression into disarray ahead of a stacked autumn series.
Tom Tombleson, a fitness coach, has also moved on. These losses are highly significant and the silence from the RFU is deafening more than seven days after we first heard Jones had jumped ship.
The situation does not cover anyone in a positive light.
Jones joined England with significant pedigree after winning back-to-back World Cups with South Africa.
Felix Jones has let Steve Borthwick and English rugby down with his departure from the set-up
Fellow coach Aled Walters’ exit has also hit the camp hard and set back the team’s progress
There’s no doubt Jones’s signing felt like a coup for Borthwick but at the time I felt uneasy with the amount of fuss being made
There’s no doubt his signing felt like a coup for Borthwick, but at the time I felt uneasy with the amount of fuss being made of his appointment. Borthwick has continued to praise Jones’ abilities at every opportunity, but ultimately, their marriage has ended in an ugly divorce.
Jones and Walters have shown their appointments were a big mistake. If you don’t want to coach England – as these two have clearly demonstrated – then the message should be clear. On your bikes, Felix and Aled. Thank you and goodbye.
This is no time for sentimentality. Both Jones and Walters are highly regarded and have achieved great things in rugby. And, while this comment is admittedly easy to make in hindsight, I’m not sure either should have been at the RFU in the first place.
England is stacked with young, talented coaches. It is a difficult thing to explain, but I do not think being an overseas coach for England is the same as it is for other countries.
Frankly put, England are not well liked in the rugby world.
To be clear, this is not about individuals. And of course, these are professional coaches and this is the modern game. But I am not surprised at what has happened.
English rugby has great people working within its ranks who could have done just as good a job as Walters and Jones.
Many of them could also have done even better with the priceless traits of patriotism and loyalty in their DNA. And this is where Borthwick, as head coach, now has a great opportunity.
Tom Tombleson, a fitness coach, has also moved on, and all these losses are highly significant
Both Jones and Walters (left) are highly regarded and have achieved great things in rugby
When I was England head coach, my backroom team remained consistent, with Andy Robinson (right) a long-term partner
He must turn the current farce into a positive and establish a coaching team that will excite his players once again. But first, he must front up and address the current situation as it is far from ideal.
I have to say even in my worst nightmare I cannot imagine it happening with my group.
When I was England head coach, my backroom team remained consistent. Andy Robinson, Phil Larder, Dave Alred, Phil Keith-Roach, Simon Hardy and Dave Reddin were my long-term partners. I simply could not have imagined one of them coming up to me in the time we worked together and informing me they were quitting.
At times we had disagreements. They are natural because in elite sport, there are many different opinions and ideas. It is high stakes and adrenaline can run out of control.
Elite coaches are just as driven, skilled, competitive and opinionated as players, so managing them is just as challenging. In some ways, it is even harder because unlike international players, they can leave and join the opposition at any moment.
That is exactly what has happened with Walters who has moved to Ireland. If Andy, Phil or others had left on my watch, then I do know for sure my players would not have been happy. Far from it, in fact!
The likes of Martin Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio would certainly have been looking at me and asking: ‘What is going on?’ And they would have been right to do so.
England’s current players have had no consistency in back-room personnel. That dates back to Eddie Jones‘ revolving door of coaches which was a farce.
Big beasts in the dressing room like Martin Johnson would have been surprised by major backroom changes
England’s current players have had no consistency in back-room personnel, in a move which dates back to Eddie Jones ‘ revolving door of coaches
If assistant coaches are leaving, the man at the top has questions to answer. That is true of Borthwick right now which is why he must hold a press conference as soon as possible to explain what is going on. Borthwick needs to say it as it is with no sugar coating.
If Borthwick has, in his own mind, made a mistake with the appointments of Jones and Walters then he just needs to own up to it. That kills the story dead and we can all move on.
As a coach, it’s about regaining the initiative. The RFU are yet to comment officially on Jones leaving which again says much. They are quick to do so on what they see as positive news, but stay in the shadows too often when push comes to shove on controversial issues.
Borthwick must be feeling badly let down and questioning his judgement given that Jones only joined after last year’s World Cup. Borthwick has to put all these emotions aside, recognise these things happen, and move on quickly.
Just eight games and seven months after joining, Jones is no more. What is particularly damning is that he has moved on from England without, seemingly at least, another job lined up. This what Borthwick must address.
The longer he stays silent, the longer the debate will rage.
Is Borthwick’s environment too intense? Not ambitious enough? Does he have the man management skills to work with big personalities? Is a high turnover of backroom staff – the sort we saw under his predecessor – something English rugby fans will likely have to continue to expect?
As things stand, we simply don’t know the answers to those questions.
Jones had shown promising signs of success with the blitz style of defensive system. But to be honest, that does not overly worry the world’s top teams.
Tom Mitchell, the former England Sevens captain and Olympic medallist, is someone worthy of targeting
Borthwick’s dream ticket would be to finally bring Shaun Edwards into the England dressing room
It is, however, an approach which can be built on by whoever comes in as his replacement.
Now is a great opportunity to get creative. Tom Mitchell, the former England Sevens captain and Olympic medallist, is someone I’ve got to know well. He is a fantastic young coach who would bring new ideas.
Borthwick’s dream ticket would be to finally bring Shaun Edwards into the England dressing room where he belongs and should have been for some time. The same applies too to Dave on the fitness side.
The RFU should be banging his door down. Would Walters and Jones have walked out on England if it was the country of their birth? Only they can answer that, but I suspect they would not.
Now, both men are consigned to English rugby’s past and that is where they must stay.
