Kevin Sinfield, the right-hand man of England rugby union boss Steve Borthwick, has come out in defense of his under-fire boss, saying that he needs time to implement his plans, just like Erik ten Hag’s assistant Mitchell van der Gaag has been given at Manchester United.
Borthwick, a former England captain, took over as head coach in December 2022, but has faced criticism after a disappointing Six Nations campaign. However, Sinfield, who was appointed as Borthwick’s assistant coach, believes that his boss needs more time to turn things around.
“Steve is an outstanding coach, and he needs time to implement his plans,” Sinfield said in an interview. “It’s not a quick fix, it’s not something that’s going to happen overnight. We’re building for the future, and that takes time.”
Sinfield drew parallels with Manchester United, where Erik ten Hag’s assistant Mitchell van der Gaag has been given time to adapt to the Premier League. “Look at Manchester United, they’ve given Erik ten Hag and his team time to settle in, and they’re starting to see the benefits,” Sinfield said.
“Similarly, Steve needs time to put his stamp on the team, to implement his plans, and to get the players to buy into his vision. We’re not asking for a lot of time, but we’re asking for enough time to make a difference.”
Sinfield also praised Borthwick’s work ethic and attention to detail, saying that he is one of the hardest-working coaches he has ever come across. “Steve is an exceptional coach, and he’s got a great work ethic,” Sinfield said.
“He’s always looking for ways to improve, to get better, and to make the team better. He’s got a great attention to detail, and he’s always pushing the players to be their best.”
England’s next assignment is a three-Test series against Australia in July, and Sinfield believes that the team can make a big impact. “We’re excited about the summer, we’re excited about the challenge that Australia will bring, and we’re confident that we can make a big impact,” Sinfield said.
“We’re not just talking about winning games, we’re talking about building a team that can compete with the best in the world. That’s what Steve is building, and that’s what we’re all working towards.”
