LONDON — England’s rugby head coach, Steve Borthwick, expresses satisfaction with the culture he is fostering within the team, particularly in light of critical remarks from former player Danny Care regarding the previous coaching staff led by Eddie Jones.

Care’s autobiography, which is being published in segments in The Times of London, describes the England environment during Jones’s tenure from 2015 to 2022. He likened it to “living in a dictatorship, under a despot who disappeared people.” Care, who has since retired from the national team, reflected on a negative atmosphere, stating, “Remember what it felt like when someone was being bullied at school and you were just glad it wasn’t you? That was the vibe.”

Borthwick, who served as an assistant coach under Jones for both Japan and England before taking over the head coaching role two years ago, was reticent to comment directly on Care’s experiences. However, he emphasized that his coaching approach encourages players to express their opinions openly.

When asked about the degree of challenge he faces from his players, Borthwick responded positively, stating, “There are plenty of times where we have ideas and we discuss them. It’s almost on a daily basis. I’ll be chatting with players and bouncing ideas around, and then things get moulded, adapted and improved.” He believes that the athletes, being the ones who perform on the field, possess an intrinsic knowledge of the game that should be valued. He highlighted the importance of having sharp minds within the squad, saying, “The best players are the best coaches, and luckily we have some great, great minds in this group.” Borthwick noted some significant improvements in players’ contributions during team meetings, indicating a vibrant dialogue during discussions. “I’m trying to create an environment that is right for this group at this time,” he added.

Additionally, Borthwick mentioned that the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive, Bill Sweeney, and executive director of performance rugby, Conor O’Shea, regularly oversee the England setup, along with inviting various visitors from the rugby community to maintain transparency and adaptability.

Currently, Jones is working as the head coach for Japan, which is scheduled to compete against France on Saturday. Meanwhile, England will face Australia at Twickenham on the same date, marking an important occasion for both teams.