England in chaos? Owen Farrell situation, coaching changes as Kevin Sinfield exit confirmed, ineligible players | Rugby Union News

Steve Borthwick’s alternative of England captain Owen Farrell has stepped away and could also be leaving for good, his right-hand man Kevin Sinfield is departing and been demoted, whereas high quality gamers are ineligible for choice. Are England in chaos? 

The 2024 Six Nations kicks off in simply over three weeks time, with England starting away to Italy on Saturday February 3, after which internet hosting Wales in Spherical 2 on Saturday February 10, however there are a variety of unanswered questions and points to be addressed.

Final yr proved a woefully unsuccessful championship for Borthwick – his first in cost – as England misplaced at house to Scotland, shipped 53 factors at Twickenham in defeat to France, and have been overwhelmed 29-16 by Grand Slam winners Eire in Dublin, leaving them languishing fourth within the ultimate Six Nations standings.

August noticed England lose to a struggling Wales in Cardiff, to Eire once more in Dublin, and to Fiji for the primary time in historical past at Twickenham, earlier than the Rugby World Cup in France introduced some consolation, however maybe largely because of the vagaries of the draw which noticed England keep away from the 5 strongest sides on this planet till the semi-finals.

In any case, performances vs Japan, Samoa and Fiji (quarter-final) weren’t promising regardless of tight victories, and Borthwick stays a person needing to make his mark at Take a look at degree.

Off-field occasions in 2024 have hardly began in ideally suited trend, nevertheless…

Captain Farrell steps apart; Switch to Paris to finish his England profession?

When Borthwick took over as England head coach in December 2022, he was unequivocal in his alternative as England captain: Owen Farrell.

Beneath Eddie Jones, Farrell moved from co-captain alongside Dylan Hartley to sole England captain in 2019, however plenty of accidents in direction of the top of the Aussie’s reign noticed a number of different gamers lead the facet.

Nonetheless, Borthwick selected his former Saracens team-mate Farrell regardless of some patchy kind, however the latter’s captaincy below the present head coach has been a rollercoaster.

Farrell was given a four-game ban in January 2023 for a excessive deal with, simply making it again for the beginning of a Six Nations which produced dire performances and outcomes, and noticed him dropped from the beginning for a Take a look at towards France, earlier than being recalled vs Eire.

In August, Farrell was then pink carded for England towards Wales at Twickenham for yet one more excessive shot, and after a fiasco of a disciplinary course of initially noticed his pink card rescinded, he was ultimately handed one other four-game ban, lacking Assessments towards Eire and Fiji and England’s opening two World Cup pool clashes vs Argentina and Japan.

As soon as accessible once more, Farrell performed 80 minutes in all of England’s remaining World Cup video games (Chile, Samoa, Fiji, South Africa, Argentina), however his kind normally play and off the kicking tee was broadly criticised by means of the event.

His place in Borthwick’s beginning facet, along with his interplay with referees, got here in for scrutiny, and in November, 112-cap Farrell precipitated a serious shock by saying he wouldn’t be accessible for choice for the 2024 Six Nations, and was taking a break from worldwide rugby to prioritise his and his household’s psychological well-being.

Borthwick has spoken in glowing phrases of Farrell recurrently since, revealing to Sky Sports activities final week “we’re all hopeful he’ll come again.” Since that interview, although, information has damaged of negotiations between Farrell and Parisian membership Racing 92 in France.

Owing to the RFU’s present choice coverage – which mirrors New Zealand and Eire – solely gamers who play their membership rugby inside England can be eligible for choice. Subsequently, if Farrell’s transfer to Paris does come to fruition, he might have already got performed for England for the ultimate time.

It is hardly a prospect or information that may fill Borthwick with positivity.

Sinfield to depart in the summertime as Felix Jones takes over as defence coach

Borthwick’s first job as a head coach was when he took over at Leicester Tigers in 2020, having labored below Eddie Jones as a forwards coach at Japan (2012-15) and England (2015-20) for the earlier eight years.

Forward of the 2021/22 season, Borthwick introduced in rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield as Leicester defence coach, with Sinfield leaving his publish as Leeds Rhinos Director of Rugby to take the place.

The duo of Borthwick and Sinfield led Leicester – who would have been relegated in 2020 if not for Saracens’ enforced factors deduction – to the Premiership title, with a game-plan largely targeted on the set-piece.

Sinfield, an undoubtedly inspirational determine and chief who reached the highest of his code, appeared set to be the following huge rugby-league-to-rugby-union defence coach convert. He additionally not too long ago acquired a CBE within the New Yr’s Honours record for his multi-million pound fundraising for analysis into Motor Neurone Illness after the prognosis of his shut good friend Rob Burrow.

Wigan rugby league greats Shaun Edwards and Andy Farrell have confirmed two of the most effective rugby union defence coaches on this planet, having fun with huge success with Wales, France, the British and Irish Lions and Eire.

But, it hasn’t fairly labored out like that for Sinfield. England have struggled, and simply over a yr into his contract, it has been confirmed the 43-year-old will depart on the finish of this season, with Borthwick commenting Sinfield is “heading in a special course away from the England rugby group.”

Not solely that, however Sinfield’s position has been modified from defence coach to abilities/kicking coach, with the incoming Felix Jones – employed from South Africa – taking on the defence with fast impact.

Irishman Jones has beforehand labored as a backs and assault coach with Munster, and as a training marketing consultant with South Africa below Jacques Nienaber – the later specialising in defence. So this can be Jones’ first teaching position specialising solely in defence.

It is all a bit odd. Borthwick’s trusted No 2 has been seemingly demoted and can go away, however not till the summer season, whereas Jones will are available in to carry out the job Sinfield was doing, having by no means held such a task beforehand…

High quality of Arundell, Willis, Ribbans ineligible for England choice

As talked about above, the RFU’s present choice standards dictates that any participant taking part in exterior of England won’t be eligible for choice to the England Take a look at facet.

With the demise of three Premiership golf equipment in Worcester, Wasps and London Irish within the area of a single season, nevertheless, gamers have been pressured into positions of needing to search for contracts rapidly.

Jack Willis was one such participant, who joined Toulouse from Wasps, whereas wing Henry Arundell joined Racing 92 from London Irish.

Willis was given dispensation to proceed taking part in for England for the rest of the season by which he joined (21/22), because of the circumstances he discovered himself in, however in each Willis and Arundell’s conditions, the gamers have signed renewed phrases in France after their preliminary offers, and thus won’t be accessible to Borthwick.

Former Northampton lock David Ribbans, who featured for England on the World Cup, has since joined Toulon and also will not be an possibility through the Six Nations.

One has solely to have a look at Arundell’s high quality and potential to see what an enormous blow that is, together with his recent Racing 92 deal by means of to 2026. The 21-year-old exploded onto the scene, notching 11 tries in his breakthrough season with London Irish on the age of 19, and scoring a sensational strive on his England debut vs Australia that summer season.

An extra strive arrived for England within the 2023 Six Nations towards Italy as a alternative below Borthwick, however alternatives proved restricted, even after Arundell scored 5 tries in a single Take a look at vs Chile on the World Cup.

Arundell scored a hat-trick on his Racing debut, and has six tries in seven Prime 14 begins to date. What a expertise England and Borthwick seem to have let slip.

Willis had developed into the most effective breakdown forwards in European rugby, and that regardless of struggling two horrific knee accidents. Since becoming a member of Toulouse, he has grow to be a French league champion and a mainstay in one of many strongest membership sides round.

Regardless of that, his contract with Toulouse by means of to 2025 will preclude him from the England jersey.

Some have known as on England to vary their choice coverage, however doing so might effectively open the floodgates of English expertise departing to France and elsewhere, negatively impacting the English golf equipment’ capacity to compete.

Accidents in sure positions a giant concern?

An extra bout of chaos for England forward of the Six Nations, is that there’s something of a front-row harm disaster.

Loosehead props Ellis Genge (hamstring), Bevan Rodd (toe), and Val Rapava-Ruskin (knee) are all presently on the sidelines, whereas Joe Marler, who appeared to have retired from England after the World Cup, has suffered an arm harm. Mako Vunipola is presently suspended, however must be again for the beginning of the championship, albeit probably undercooked.

Centre Manu Tuilagi (groin) and back-row Tom Curry (hip) are two different absentees, with the previous hoping to return through the championship after lacking the beginning, and the latter out for the season. Each are essential performers for England, although, and can be missed.