England have received a World Cup yardstick boost from Burnley boss Vincent Kompany.
The former Manchester City centre-back addressed Steve Borthwick’s squad last week, detailing how he shaped the Clarets’ return to the Premier League. The ex-Belgium talisman talked on everything from Pep Guardiola to what it takes to win the Premier League, leaving England enthralled and impressed in equal measure.
Saracens flanker Ben Earl admitted England were heartened to hear first-hand the levels required to thrive in football – but also that many of the required skills appear transferable.
“It was really interesting; he got this slideshow out and showed us a pre-season fixture that he wasn’t happy with from last year, a review on that and the stuff he hangs his hat on,” said Earl, of Kompany’s England visit.
“The links between the two sports, and certainly his environment and this environment, are exactly the same in terms of the messages he wants, the intensity he requires his players to bring.
“That’s exactly the same here. It resonated really highly. To hear that from someone we’ve all watched play at the highest level for a number of years and picking his brains about Pep, players reaching their potential and not reaching their potential, was really, really interesting.
“We all walked away thinking he’s going to be a really top manager in terms of the stuff he hangs his hat on, and also how awesome it is that there are similarities between the two sports.
“We had a few speakers come in during the Six Nations but he was the first in this World Cup camp. I think there will be a few more as the camp goes on.”
Premiership finalists like Earl have been in the England camp for a little more than a month now, while other players have seven weeks of World Cup preparation under their belts. England will start their four-match World Cup warm-up schedule by taking on Wales in Cardiff on August 5 – with head coach Borthwick then naming his final 33-man World Cup squad the following week.
England hopefuls in times past have discovered their selection fate almost by default, with instances where players have been added to WhatsApp groups before being told of their inclusion. Others have been contacted by administrators to discuss logistics before their selection had been confirmed by coaching staff.
All this will be vastly different under Borthwick’s stewardship, with the former Bath, Saracens and England lock having ran the gamut of selection experiences in his fine playing career. Borthwick missed out on the 2003 World Cup squad by the skin of his teeth, and then went to the 2007 competition where England reached the final.
By the time Martin Johnson was boss in 2011, Borthwick had lost the captaincy and then did not make the squad cut for the global battle in New Zealand. Earl numbers among a crowded and high-quality back-row group, where some extremely talented players will doubtless miss the World Cup.
While relishing that squad battle, the 25-year-old also praised Borthwick’s approach to communicating his selection decisions.
“Obviously that selection call will be a massive moment; it hasn’t been discussed so far and honestly I haven’t given it a second thought because of how hard we are working here,” said Earl.
“You can’t even think that far ahead, there is just so much demand, so much competition of yourself, that whatever happens, it happens. All the players will leave everything out there and see what happens, and you’ll know that you’ve had a great pre-season regardless.
“Obviously we are all dying to be involved. But if it’s not your day, it’s not your day. And you’ve got to crack on, I guess. With Steve, that communication around selection has been very much more personal, and that’s been great.
“I know a lot of players have enjoyed that side of it, not staying up late at night waiting to be added to a WhatsApp group or similar, that I know a few people have experienced. That’s been a really nice change.”
