Former England coach Eddie Jones has defended Steve Borthwick's animated response to media questions regarding England's discipline in their recent victory against Argentina. Borthwick, typically known for his measured demeanor, reacted sharply to journalists focusing on four second-half yellow cards during the 31-24 win, labeling them a "negativity committee."
Jones, who has worked closely with Borthwick, suggested the emotional reaction stemmed from the immense pressure coaches face, drawing parallels to criticism faced by Thomas Tuchel in football and Brendon McCullum in cricket. "Coaches are only human and when you’re under pressure, as Steve has been this year, sometimes that all boils up to the surface," Jones stated.
While acknowledging the validity of the media's focus on the 14 yellow cards England has received in their last 10 Tests, Jones emphasized that coaches are entitled to present their own perspective. He praised England's first-half performance against Argentina, describing it as "absolutely outstanding" and highlighting the impactful play of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ellis Genge, and Ollie Chessum. "The context of the game taking place just after England's heartbreaking football World Cup defeat by the same nation added an extra layer of emotion," Jones added.
However, Jones identified the second-half lapse in discipline, which saw England reduced to 12 men at one point, as a significant concern. He noted that stronger opponents would have capitalized on such opportunities, referencing the near-loss that was ultimately secured by late tries and a controversial TMO decision. The decision to overturn a potential winning try for Argentina was deemed correct by Jones, though he called for a clearer protocol for TMO interventions to streamline the game.
Jones expressed that while two wins out of three matches this summer represent a step back from a poor Six Nations performance, England still lags behind the top international sides like South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, and France. "At the moment, I don’t think England can," Jones stated regarding their current standing. He stressed that Borthwick's primary challenge is to clearly define a strategy for closing this gap and improving the team's ability to apply pressure for longer durations, citing instances against South Africa and Argentina where England faltered.
According to Jones, the yellow cards are a symptom of pressure, and Borthwick must address the root causes of this pressure to prevent them from occurring. Failure to resolve this issue, he warned, will prevent England from being genuine contenders for the next World Cup, a goal that he believes is paramount for the Rugby Football Union's leadership.