Pat Lam says it’s an “exciting time” for the England team following Steve Borthwick’s ascension to the role of head coach, with the Bristol Bears director of rugby confident the former Leicester Tigers chief will be his own man in the job.
Borthwick was confirmed as Eddie Jones’ successor earlier this week after an outstanding spell in charge of Leicester, transforming their fortunes to become Premiership champions, while the 43-year-old was already highly-regarded within the corridors of power at the RFU having previously worked as the Australian’s No2.
Although there is unlikely to be a huge revolution in how England play, he is seen as a departure from the abrasive style of Jones, with RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney using words like “calm” and “focused” in terms of signifiers as to what the new era will hold.
But Lam, having already had some initial communication with the new man in the job via text message, insists Borthwick will stamp his own personality on the team, albeit with previous time between now and England’s first game of the 2023 Six Nations on February 4, against Scotland.
“Excellent,” Bears director of rugby Lam said, in response to Borthwick’s appointment. “I think it’s great that it’s not only an Englishman doing the job but a very successful coach and a quality coach.
“Obviously he’s been in the environment before and now is probably the right time for him because he has a good handle on the landscape, he has good relationships with lots of the players - whether through Leicester or his time previously. I sent him a text when he got the job and he said back that he’s looking forward to working with us as he goes into his tenure. It’s an exciting time for the English team.
“I think the most important thing is he’ll do it his way, that’s what you expect of any good coach. The process of getting the role, and being asked to do the role, is you set out very clearly how you’re going to do the role. And if you can’t, you won’t get the job. And once you set it out, and you have real clarity - and part of the delay was, I believe, like any coach, you’ll be pushing for the things you need to get done - once you establish that, crack on and get it done.”
Exeter Chiefs’ Rob Baxter indicated this week that Borthwick’s appointment would strengthen bridges with the Premiership’s 11 head coaches, having operated in that realm for the last two years.
Indeed, Lam considers those relationships intrinsic to the success of the national team, given it can take a weight off the mind in terms of assessing the fitness and availability of specific players, allowing focus to be tuned on matchday preparation.
The Bears have England stars Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler and Harry Randall in their ranks, while Max Malins is joining from Saracens at the end of the season.
Lam and Borthwick clashed in a touchline confrontation during a Premiership game towards the end of the 2020/21, ending in a frank exchange of words. But that is, of course, water under the bridge as Lam looks forward to continuing to enhance the lines of communication between the national and club set-up.
“Whatever the way is that Steve wants to play, he’ll have the resources, he’ll have the players and he’ll have the backing,” Lam added.
“The biggest thing that is important is the relationship with the coaches and medical and S&C (strength and conditioning) teams of the Premiership clubs. Because you really want to limit the time you have with international rugby to focus on game, culture leadership and not be worried too much on, 'I’ve got to get these guys fit'.
"You’ve got to trust the people who are out there; there are some world class environments. So building relationships and trust so you can put all your attention on the limited windows that it takes to win the games.”
As for transferring his approach at Leicester, Lam - who has previously worked in the international realm as Samoa coach and Scotland assistant - believes it can be done, as the elite level of the game provides certain luxuries you can’t enjoy domestically. But dealing with the additional expectation placed on each game and result will be something Borthwick has to adapt to.
“I have been at that level with different teams, as a player and a coach, and the No1 thing you have is you have access to everything,” Lam said. “What I mean is, at the moment, if a player doesn’t quite get it right here, you’re limited to what you have - you have to build and spend time daily to try and improve that player.
"While, at the next level, culture, vision-wise, it’s very simple - you’re all English, you’re all Samoan, you’re all Kiwis - so you build your culture. But you’re dealing with the best of the best and if that best of the best doesn’t have the right attitude, mindset or dips in performance, then you just change. You just bring the next guy in.
“If you have clarity on how you want to play, the right people in your management team, the right players and then also you have the right culture, if you have all of that stuff in place then you have the ingredients to play whatever style you want to play to win games.
"And ultimately the biggest challenge against all of it, is the expectation to win. That’s the thing that’s slightly different (to the club game), depending on who you’re coaching, of course, and what the objectives are.”
