.On Caluori wrote:I think it's probably over a year ago, I was getting sent footage of him and starting to get reports of him and his development plan," said Borthwick.
"He's a player that I think has a point of difference."
“I think he could certainly feature this autumn,” the England head coach said. “He has been on the radar for a considerable period of time. It was over a year ago that I started getting sent footage from [the RFU’s] Conor O’Shea, Mark Mapletoft and Jonathan Pendlebury. They were talking about him among a group of other players on the pathway.”
“How brilliant is it that we’ve got exciting players like that around,” Borthwick said.
“You’ve got young kids talking about them and wanting to be them. I think that’s absolutely wonderful. Henry Pollock is another example. There’s incredible talent in the team. Noah’s been showing that ability throughout his pathway experience. Like every player there are always bits to improve which I think is the really exciting part.”
.On TWillis wrote:“Tom told me his decision late last week, gave me a call and talked about some of the reasons [why] he made the decision he has made to play in the future overseas. That was a private conversation so I am not going into those reasons but he knows how highly I rate him as a player and a person and I wished him well.
"I think he also understands why I have decided all the time we have should be invested in players who are going to be at the World Cup in two years’ time. We are aiming to win a World Cup for England, we want to win now and we want to win that World Cup in two years’ time.
“Tom is not going to be part of that World Cup, given the decision he has made and he understands that, he understands the decision I made,” Borthwick said. “He thought long and hard and found it a very tough decision to make so I wished him well. I think he’s a wonderful rugby player and a great bloke.
“I’ve talked about the importance of the number of times a team gets to play together, and the situation with England that the players are spread over a number of clubs. A handful of nations have that. Other nations have just a few clubs that they come from. The time we have together is crucial.
“I have talked to you about the number of Test matches we have between now and the World Cup. I want us to win the World Cup but I also want us to win now. I am not trying to make a differentiation. The decision has to be that we invest in players who will be in the team for the future.
“My job is to then focus on who is going to be playing for England to win the World Cup in two years’ time. I think the situation is really clear and I’d be surprised if anyone thinks too differently to the way I am thinking. The time we have together is crucial.”
.On Ilione wrote:He’s fantastic over the ball, stealing ball and not conceding penalties,” Borthwick said. “He’s the best I can see at stealing the ball and doing it in a way that means the referee rewards him and doesn’t give penalties against him, which is terrific. That’s hugely valuable.
“I think he also has a powerful carry, particularly a tight carry through tight defences. Most back-row forwards will carry a little bit wider, he’ll carry tight. I refer you to the Premiership final, the carry he made in the opposition 22 carrying through traffic. That’s a prime example of the type of carrier he is. That is what he brings.”
On The Inevitable Fazlet Question wrote:“Owen and I have spoken regularly throughout his time back in England and when he was in France,” Borthwick said. “I enjoy chatting to him and he’s got a great rugby brain. I think he’s been very clear that he wants to get back into the rhythm of playing for his club and enjoy his rugby again after an injury‑disrupted year. We’re only a handful of games in to this season so I don’t think it’s a conversation for right now.”
Puja
