Jamie George Confident in England's Set-Piece and Borthwick's Leadership
England hooker Jamie George has voiced strong support for head coach Steve Borthwick, describing him as "the perfect person" to lead the team into the next World Cup. Despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign that saw England suffer four consecutive defeats, including a narrow 48-46 loss to France in Paris, George remains optimistic about the team's prospects.
Set-Piece Strength and South Africa Challenge
George highlighted England's set-piece performance as a key strength, particularly noting their scrum dominance against France. "Our set-piece is in a great spot," he stated, adding that England should not fear facing world champions South Africa in their upcoming summer Nations Championship fixtures. "I think we can take it to the Springboks up front. They haven't played for 10 months, but they are world class. Playing them in Johannesburg is difficult, but it's an amazing opportunity."
The hooker expressed eagerness for the clash, saying, "I can't wait. I wish it was next week." England's last away trip to South Africa was in 2018, making this a highly anticipated encounter.
Borthwick's Endorsement Amid RFU Review
Borthwick's position has come under scrutiny following England's poor Six Nations results, with the Rugby Football Union conducting a review to understand the team's decline after 11 straight wins. RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney recently offered qualified support, promising to work with Borthwick to rectify issues.
George, however, gave a full-throated endorsement, calling Borthwick "one of the best coaches I've ever worked under." He added, "Under Steve, I think we will be right up there with the favourites to win the World Cup in 2027. He has been unbelievable for English rugby, and he is absolutely the right man to lead us forward for a long time."
Young Talent and Team Morale
George also praised 21-year-old flanker Henry Pollock, who faced booing from French fans during his cameo appearance. "It was funny, I was sat next to him when Steve picked the team and he said to me: 'I can't wait to get booed by 90,000 people.' That's the sort of bloke that he is," George remarked.
He defended Pollock's occasional mistakes, noting, "He's a young kid, he's going to make mistakes but geez he adds a huge amount to this team. It's almost a sign of respect that they boo him. He's a character and the game needs characters."
Despite the setbacks, George believes the team's performance in Paris, where they scored seven tries, has sparked renewed optimism. The RFU review is expected to conclude next month, allowing Borthwick to plan for the summer fixtures against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.
