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'It's personal': England rift alleged between Vunipola and Borthwick
By Liam Heagney
An ex-England international has alleged that a bust-up is the reason why Billy Vunipola hasnât figured at all this year for his country under new head coach Steve Borthwick. Previous head coach Eddie Jones had recalled the Saracens No8 for last Julyâs three-Test series win away to Australia and Vunipola remained the player in that England jersey for three of Englandâs four Autumn Nations Series matches in November, starting versus Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa and coming off the bench against Japan
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Vunipla was absent, though, when Borthwick named his 36-strong squad on January 16 for the 2023 championship and the coach has since named the generally misfiring Alex Dombrandt as his No8 in all four England matches â including last Saturdayâs humiliating record home defeat versus France.
Given that the England back row of Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Dombrandt and replacement Ben Curry were so brutally blown away by the French, former England out-half Andy Goode had hoped that Borthwick would recall Vunipola for the final match of the campaign away to Ireland next Saturday in Dublin.
However, Borthwick continued to exclude Vunipola when the squad was publicly confirmed on Monday morning and Goode, appearing on the latest edition of The Rugby Pod he hosts with Jim Hamilton, has now alleged that a bust-up with coach Borthwick is the reason for Vunipolaâs continued absence.
Borthwick would have previously worked with Vunipola when he was the England assistant coach under Jones, taking charge of the forwards from 2016 through to the pandemic suspension of the 2020 Six Nations. Throughout that period, Vunipola was a regular Test pick when he was fit, but he has now been cast aside since Borthwick took charge after joining from Leicester in December.
England le crunched, Jim gets a new tattoo and weâre joined by Italyâs Paolo Garbisi ??
Listen now on Spotify ? https://t.co/5QnNS4nQ51 pic.twitter.com/4utgknEngr
â The Rugby Pod (@TheRugbyPod) March 14, 2023
Asked on the show about the England back row situation, Goode said: âThis is the thing, pre-match doing the analysis, seven of that eight pack that monstered by France started every Six Nations game. Dombrandt, non-existent in the game, has been poor in the Six Nations. I look at the squad thinking, âYou want some ballast, bring Billy backâ. Billy ainât there and Iâm hearing the reasons around Billy not being involved in the Steve Borthwick squad is because they had a fallout. Had a fallout and Steve wonât pick him for that reason.
âFrom what I hear and understand itâs personal. Steve wonât pick Billy Vunipola because of what happened previously between them.â
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Co-host Hamilton interjected that it was crazy how only last month the talk was about the England back row having so many options available and now this particular part of the team now appears to be stuck in a selection rut. Goode replied: âWell, there is one in the squad who probably makes more metres, breaks more tackles, metres after tackles, everything that you need â Ben Earl.
âHe is not a massive bloke but in terms of performance of what he has done in the Premiership this year: I donât have the stats to hand, but Iâd be amazed if he is not in the most metres made bracket, most tackle busts, most metres made after contact as a player in the Premiership â and he canât get a look in under Steve. I know he played Italy and put a kick in because that is probably what they told him to do but I canât see England winning.â
Quizzed about what decision Borthwick will make at No10 given the current speculation is that George Ford could be a starter in Dublin, Goode, who is also a RugbyPass columnist, said: âWhat has George Ford done to deserve playing for England in the here and now? Off the back of an achilles injury, he has played two-and-a-half games (for Sale), has not set the world alight, and got spanked by London Irish at the weekend.
âI am bringing Manu (Tuilagi) back in the centres, so you have got to back Marcus Smith again (at 10) which probably means you have got a choice to make between Owen (Farrell) at 12, which I donât agree with⌠I canât see England winning. I can see a better performance from England, but this Ireland team is at times unplayable.â
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That performance by Dombrandt in the weekend was the worst that I have seen by a loose forward in a test match. He was just *atrocious*.
Dombrandt was our best backrow forward vs France. The most tackles, the fewest missed tackles , the most meters and carries, the fewest penalties conceded.
Iâm not trying to say he was good. No one was for England. But he certainly wasnât the worst.
Why are you singling out Dombrandt?
borthwick cutting off his nose to spite his face đ¤ don't think so. Borthwick is too professional to let a little dust up get in the way of winning. Might believe it if it's EJ, not borthwick. he's probably giving others chance to prove themselves. we now see dombrandt needs longer time. this rwc too soon. need to bring back BV to improve his coaching credibility. continue losing, then he is as mediocre as his playing days....
Seems like unsubstantiated rumour âmy mateâs dog walkerâs uncle told meâŚâ. No detail or evidence to back up the claim.
Even if this were true, Billy V has had his chance time and time again and has failed to produce the goods over the last 5 years or so. He shouldnât be picked. On ability. Borthwick has the 2 best 8s in his squad in Dombrandt and Simmonds and is right to stick with them.
There is, undoubtedly, an issue around the balance of Englandâs pack though. The likes of Lawes, Curry (and Underhill?) are missed and would make a big difference at 5/6(/7) respectively. Chessum and Ludlum both have shone in patches, but theyâre a significant step down in quality and physicality⌠maybe Ribbans and Ted Hill would be better understudies to bring the required physicality.
England also need to sort out their scrum - Genge and Sinckler have been poor in that regard so far. England might be better with a Marler/Rapava-Ruskin starting at loosehead and Collier/Cole starting at tight head to give them a set piece platform.
which game you been watching bigmaul? embarrassing watching the 8 spilling balls at this level. can't get out of 22 without losing possession and can't break advantage. not mention cant tackle... that's your 8? they need go back club for 4 more years. simmond can't heck it at this level. the backrow vs france looks timid and were blown off. you must be a sarries hater... sounds like it đ
Borthwick is just a s#%t Eddie Jones.
Not a good enough coach to make selection calls based on who's been mean to him. You need all the help you can get, probably just pick your best players.
Eddie had 7 years and started with a team that had been good for 4 years, but had 2 bad games at the 2015 WC. Borthwick has had 7 weeks and started with a team that has been bad for (nearly) 4 years, since the 2019 WC. Way too early to be making that kind of a judgment on Borthwick. This wonât be an overnight fix.