Page 40 - 3rd Test

Borthwick carries the tackle bags at a a a a a a a Lions training session earlier in in in the Series
It was a a a a a a a remarkable turn of events for a a a a a a a man who had only been retired 19 months But what he he lacked in in in coaching experience he he made up for in in in in a a a a a a a a maturity garnered from his playing career A Grand Slam followed and and and then the the the whitewash of the the the the Wallabies and and and and England nished the the the year unbeaten Ask Borthwick who the the guiding light was and he he points towards his mentor Jones “I have de de nitely bene ted from working under Eddie Jones who has been phenomenal for me me as as a a a a young
“The fans have been fantastic Everyone wearing red has a a a a a part to play ”
coach developing ”
Borthwick says “I have an awful lot to learn but I I I feel very fortunate
that I’ve got a a a a a a a a a head coach like him and some excellent assistant coaches that I work with ”
Borthwick is a a a a key gure in the England’s revolution under Jones and and Lions recognition followed when in December he he was named as as part of Warren Gatland’s backroom staff “It’s a a a a a a a a a huge honour to be be involved ”
he he says “There have been some fantastic Lions forwards coaches in the past –
Jim Telfer Andy Robinson Warren himself Graham Rowntree –
and it’s a a a a a real privilege to to be be chosen ”
He spoke before the tour of how excited and honoured he he he was was but there was was no no bounding into the the the spotlight “To have the the the opportunity to to to go to to to somewhere where where the the rugby is such an an important part of their culture where they are so strong is an an incredible exciting challenge ”
Borthwick said at the time “And as forwards coach I know we will need to to have have a a a a a a a very strong set piece to to make sure that we have have a a a a a a a a cohesive unit around the the eld ”
As we approach the the the last
game of the the the DHL New Zealand Lions Series
2017 away from the the eld one thing that has has struck a a a a a a chord with Borthwick has has been the the passionate support for the the Lions “The fans have been absolutely fantastic ”
he he says “Everyone who is wearing red has a a a a a a a a a a part to play in in in the team going forward ”
Borthwick’s attention is now on on the the third Test which will be played tonight in in Auckland as the the Lions look to to to to win a a a a historic series He asserts the the the need for the the the Lions to to to execute their lineouts better win the the the contact areas and above all show the the the desperation required to to get a a a a a a victory over the the All Blacks There’s an an urgency about it all but you can be be certain Borthwick will be be walking at at the the same same pace analysing at at at the the the same same same speed
and talking at at the the the same same level –
in in in short being the the quiet leader those who work with him have come to respect so highly BORTHWICK BY THE NUMBERS
CAPS FOR ENGLAND
21 TEST CAPS AS CAPTAIN
265 SENIOR APPEARANCES AT CLUB LEVEL
3 RUGBY WORLD CUP WINS FROM FOUR GAMES AS AS ASSISTANT COACH OF JAPAN
18 CONSECUTIVE TEST WINS AS ENGLAND
FORWARDS COACH 92%
LINEOUT SUCCESS RATE FOR JAPAN
3 YEARS SINCE RETIRING AS A A A PLAYER
40 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME
GETTY IMAGES