Kevin Sinfield will step down as Steve Borthwick’s England number two after the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
Sinfield has overseen the defence since his appointment by Borthwick in December 2022, but after the recent World Cup in France in which they were eliminated in the semi-finals by South Africa, the former Leeds rugby league great has decided to move on.
The 43-year-old will remain in place for the Six Nations and the three Tests arranged for June and July, but in a new role overseeing skills and kicking with the incoming Felix Jones taking charge of the defence.
Borthwick declined to disclose any details over Sinfield’s future plans in the first backroom reshuffle of his year-long reign.
“Kev made the decision over what he wanted to do,” Borthwick said. “At the end of the World Cup, there was space for every member of the management to reflect as we look ahead to the next World Cup cycle.
“After a big tournament like the World Cup, every member of the management team needed the opportunity to relax, decompress, reflect and spend some time with friends and family.
“A couple of weeks later, Kev and I met and he gave me his decision. Kev’s decided that longer-term he’s going to head in a different direction away from the England rugby team.
“Ahead of the autumn series, Kev will not work with the team then, he will move away from the team and in a different direction.”
England’s Owen Farrell. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Sinfield has been busy undertaking remarkable fund-raising feats for research into Motor Neurone Disease, having just been made a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list for his laudable efforts.
“I’m just grateful that’s he added so much value over these 12 months and that he’s going to stay with the team for the Six Nations and the summer tour,” said Borthwick.
“You can’t overstate the value he’s brought, what he’s done and the relationships he’s built.”
Meanwhile, Owen Farrell’s future with England remains uncertain after Borthwick revealed he has been given no indication by his captain that he plans to return.
Farrell will miss at least the Six Nations in order to prioritise his and his family’s mental well-being following the World Cup, during which the Saracens five-eighth was repeatedly booed by supporters at games.
There remains the possibility that the bronze final victory over Argentina in November could have been the 32-year-old’s final Test for England, burt when asked if Farrell will play for his country again, Borthwick replied: “I’m really hopeful he does – but that’s going to be a decision he makes.”
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
OOOOOO!! The words "England" and "horizon" together in the same sentence! :shocked:
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I agree that England were not the 3rd best side in the RWC. But, then again, I don’t believe the Boks were the best side there either.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
So if Pollard had missed that difficult kick from 45 metres and/or the ball hadn’t slipped out of Jamie George’s hand when he was throwing into the lineout in the Bok 22 near the end, the English league would be brilliant rather than rubbish?
Rolando
Roar Rookie
Coaches matter. The greater coaching team matters. Quality of players matter. Combinations matter. Time playing together matters. A lot. A critical number of uninjured players playing together matters. Ben Darwin argues cohesion is key. Some punters try to argue that a team of great players will beat a well-coached team of lesser quality. Equally less insightful punters will argue that it's the coaching that has most effect. Horses for courses matters. For example, at the moment, Aus needs a coach who can bring the whole coaching team on board as well as the players. A greater team effort will prevail. An injury here or there or a player unavalable won't disturb the greater matrix or momentum so much. I think we Aus is setting up all inputs well . We (finally!) now know its not just player selection or coach selection.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Jen North, could be true….however you also need to give the Boks credit for winning the RWC despite the toughest draw, the hardest route to the final, less time to prepare for the final and playing 78 minutes without a hooker. Few teams could have dealt with all of that.
woodart
Roar Rookie
since we are constantly that super rugby is a third rate comp, compared to the french ,english and urc comps , please explain why the english ,french and irish teams DIDNT make the final of the rwc?
Mirt
Roar Rookie
Farm Ostrich, hmmm, that’s a new one
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
We will take accidental every day of the week. :silly: …Truth is Boks didnt just beat England they hammered them by the biggest scoring margin in World Cup final history ..Accidental ?? Bring it on …How did the Boks suddenly be blamed for a good draw …Anyway bad news coming all your way …Boks totally intend to win 2027 too :laughing:
Jez North
Roar Rookie
England not only a super kind draw but played Boks who had totally emptied the tank a week before vs France The same could be said about South Africa’s dream draw in 2019. Japan in the QF, a lucky (and ordinary) Wales skidding past a superior French side who were red-carded in the second half. But the piece de resistance is to quote my Bok friend r.e emptying the tank: which England did in their Semi against the All Blacks. That was the best game of the tournament by a country mile. One which will go down in history. The accidental champions a mere after thought.
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Brendan if you did the maths, it was pretty obvious that England will make the Semifinals and loose as soon as they play against the better sides on the other side of the draw. See this article: https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/11/02/winners-and-losers-revisited-how-did-the-monte-carlo-model-go-at-predicting-the-rugby-world-cup/ The Boks were slightly off their game after a much tougher QF against France and England capitalise and almost pulled through to the final. They had an outside chance to win the RWC, however the favourites were all on the other side of the draw.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Final word on Farrell though .. What a champion he has been of our game ..What a superb and respected competitor ..And by all accounts from both opposition and teamates a super person..So to all those out there determined to destroy him ..I say not only are you wrong but you yourselves can f#@ o## :thumbup:
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Ha ha …No ! ..They were well placed kicks and Boks seriously pressurised the catcher into error….Boks have one of the best try scoring records in international rugby against tier 1 nations ..A zillion tries against Namibia doesnt count..Thats exactly why England poached Bok attack coach Felix Jones . They have a problem in that area ..They (England) have the most money ..They bought the best ..The tired old narrative that South Africa play boring rugby is just lazy analysis founded in predjudice …
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
The draw did help as it allowed them to build but first game against the team many expected to top the pool was not. All 4 teams who made the semis had much nicer draws than those who didn't, but that's part of the challange of winning it. Next WC that should hopefully be better and more uniform. They still finished 3rd and got better the longer they were together, yes need to improve the attack but a good defence is a great place to start.
Jez North
Roar Rookie
Give me a break. Two of the Springbok tries in that QF were the result of lucky bounces from up-and-unders.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Mmm..Not sure about that Brendan ..England not only a super kind draw but played Boks who had totally emptied the tank a week before vs France .But credit to Borthwick ( and Gatland) ..Played a limited game to their strengths ..Very nearly paid off too. ..But repeating mysel...going forward you know , I know England now have to add some creativity and flair ..Who knows ..maybe just maybe we are witnessing the end of the Owen Farrell era ..
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Finals seldom produce flair rugby ..Too much at stake ..Boks however against the best French team in memory with 80 000 passionate fans rooting for the Tricolours scored 4 tries …Past 6 Nations a major issue for England was inability to cross the tryline … What has made NZ such potent opponents over the years is the constant threat of them scoring tries ..So I stand by my post that this must be addressed if they (England) consistently want to challenge for nr 1 ranking . And only the coaches can do that .
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Due to the rush in which the coaching team was put together Borthwick was never going to be able to get who he wanted at the time as it was mid season and most of the top people were either locked into a team or signed up already for the following season. While it may cause some disruption having both him and Jones there for the 6Ns should make it smooth enough.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
That not what the roar crowd were saying. plenty had England to finish 2nd and possibly lose to Japan or Samoa (or miss out due to BPs. Draw did help but their group provided half the semi-finalist (so better than the Wales/Oz group) and they did just as well against SA as France of NZ so not sure they would deserve to be seen as would not have done badly on the other side of the draw.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Agree, they lost by the same margin as the team in the final and after all the talk of Samoa and Japan giving them a run for 2nd they comfortably won the group and ran the winners as close as the runners up (but they did lead for alot of the match)
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
I think the point is that what an international coach can do is very limited and its what happens each week at the clubs that determines the success of the national team. If Rassie was put in charge of Oz he wouldn't be able to do his game plan. If you didn't have a head coach and you let the players pick the gameplan and team few teams would change much in terms of results. I do think coaches can make small changes but unless you are rassie you are aren't picking if players are kicking, passing etc.