Jonny May has hailed Steve Borthwick as England rugby’s answer to Alan Turing, and has backed the “genius” coach to crack Test rugby’s enigma code.
May has tipped England to prosper under Borthwick, a coach so analytical that the Gloucester wing also likened him to Mr Spock, from Star Trek.
After coming up just short to leading England to a World Cup Final in Saturday night’s agonising 16-15 last-four defeat by defending champions South Africa, May backed Borthwick to go on to generate sustained success.
“We’re starting to see what a genius Steve is, he’s starting to get this team going,” said May. “You won’t find a harder working man than Steve, and his approach to the game is a little bit like Alan Turing. If anybody is going to crack the code, it will be Steve.
“He’s getting closer each week. He’s got an analytical brain, he takes an evidence-based, scientific, Spock-like approach to the game.
“I’ve been very grateful for all the coaches I’ve had throughout my career, but Steve is onto something. He’s a young coach [and] unique in the way he goes about the game.
"So, if anybody is going to crack it, it’s him. This game gets more complicated each week, but he’s obsessed with it, and hats off to him.”
May missed out on initial selection for England’s 33-man World Cup squad, but was drafted back in after Anthony Watson’s calf injury.
The 33-year-old produced a gritty performance on his 78th cap on Saturday in what could prove his final international appearance.
He might not feature in Friday’s third-place play-off against Argentina, but will have no regrets if Saturday’s defeat proves his Test swansong.
“Although my England career probably won’t continue after this World Cup, I’m grateful to have been a part of this, and I feel connected to this team,” said May.
“I’ve said never say never, but very much in my head now I’m thinking more than likely that I’ll be done with England after this.
“To think about watching this team go on and improve again, it’s making my hairs stand up. It’s been everything to me, playing for England, just absolutely everything.
"To be connected, to be close to the boys, to go through these times with my friends, that’s just incredibly important to me.”
