It has been a mixed start to the rugby season. I have been wondering how the Prem would build on last year against a backdrop of seemingly irreversible and terminal change predicted off the field. Other than the one-legged dog called Newcastle, the revival of Exeter and the fast start by the Saints in pursuit of a dominant, Bath are real features, also watch out for Saracens who look hungry. The Prem Cup is a canine breakfast, hardly surprising, and now merely a diary date for the season.

I love the clear and welcome follow through in women’s rugby from the World Cup, with plenty of hard yards to come in terms of planning and realistic vision. Fault lines in leadership everywhere, look no further than Wales but they do not have the monopoly on that. Meantime, an extremely watchable Rugby Championship finds an audience in the North as squads embark upon their last matches before the beach, whether in Chicago or Wembley. The game continues to innovate but the incremental revenue remains elusive. Players now have R360 contracts and are being threatened with long term exclusion from National teams – that story will run for a while.

It is a positive frustration that England do not find themselves up against the Springboks this autumn as these two sides will surely be the ones to beat come 2027 World Cup time, the hosts being my wild card pick as they develop with some very youthful talent and have terrific playing ability – if they can stay fit as there is little depth. I also cannot wait to see how the likes of Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu and Canan Moodie operate in tandem as this new Springbok team comes together, what a midfield it is. They have it hard anyway, against France and Ireland, to finish a successful season, characterised by the establishment of supreme depth in their squad. This was enhanced by a forward looking selection philosophy and with this still in play they can be losing matches with a bigger picture in mind but try telling them that. You can say the same about France who have another layer of experience added on from the New Zealand tour. They may have lost the matches but played with plenty of skill and ambition.

England has relied rightly upon the Argentina results – impressive – in the summer and, with a number of fretful, stalking Lions in the background to come in, Borthwick is spoilt for choice. What national side could afford to leave out Farrell and Smith from their squad, or absorb the loss of their other world class No 8 to France, the first one is already there, truly brothers in arms. Borthwick has also identified I suspect that the series win over Australia by the B&I Lions was somewhat qualified and he learnt nothing new other than Pollock continues to develop in his unique style. I recall the advent of Jeremy Guscott to the England ranks and his prodigious skill endured till the end, I suspect we have someone similar on our hands, only good news for England.

When Borthwick inherited the unholy mess from Jones he was clear in his assessment, ‘nothing good’ to look at in English rugby at a National level. We could have all told him that and the Twickenham crowd often did, based upon off field structures which allowed the now coach of Japan to operate a toxic fiefdom which wasted both talent and time, leaving England 6th or worse in the world, when we should have been Top 3 non negotiable.

With Lee Blackett on board, a backs coach we have been waiting two decades for, at last we can dare to hope that a midfield will emerge to cement this exciting group. Irritatingly, the talented Seb Atkinson is injured so that may have to wait. Freeman at 13, yes all for it, lets get him closer to the action and over gain lines. I went the other way from centre to wing in the first ever experiment of positional flexibility – needs must in the era of Carling and Guscott – and I welcome this development which could become permanent. Dingwall has great passing ability and needs to be given that chance rather than always off 10 which is the way Ford likes it (as did Farrell) but at top level is too predictable. Blackett will sort that out. Lawrence, Ojomoh and Slade (senior citizen) in the creative background, at last we have some depth to choose from…

However, the failed years of Farrell, a fish out of water at 12, should not be replicated with Fin Smith. This concept was driven by a complete lack of coaching and player identification for the midfield position by successive coaches. Lancaster and Jones presided over a half century of centre combinations, a national embarrassment. I can see the occasional appearance due to the manipulation of the bench strategy which has become a selection decision in its own right and is the reason that Ben Earl is even being talked about as a starting centre – this is wasting an opportunity for another player to be building confidence and as I say a mistake made over the last two decades. I myself would have been licking my lips in opposition however respectful of the talent there which I respect. The French will be laughing and not even Rassie Erasmus would go this far, having Andre Esterhuizen covering the back row because of his exceptional strength is a completely different matter and again driven by the replacements strategy. 

Top picks don’t always start the big games now because of the second half impact they could have when it really matters. England can point to this as they lost multiple matches in the last 20 minutes. The best sides win games in that crucial period, well tell me something new. One point is all that is needed, never in doubt (as Chilcott would say in Bath days), ask the Springboks. 

I personally struggle with this approach but the whole game people strategy is in full flow and World Rugby has allowed it so you cannot blame coaches for exploring it. I remain unconvinced because it also presents real player welfare challenges. Wait for the day when a new and costly position is created: Head of Finishers Strategy, Game closing manager etc etc. No doubt it will be signed off by star-struck administrators and more unnecessary cost enters the game.

Notwithstanding all this, I am very optimistic for Steve Borthwick and his team. They can only improve from here with the ever present player depth and they can be given the first chance in two decades to present a case for the World Cup and world leading status. He is not excitable as a character but he must be excited deep down. He has the tools at his disposal and while many bumps in the road still ahead of him (France and Scotland away in the Six Nations are eyewateringly difficult assignments, Wales at home could be eyewatering for different reasons), the countdown to the first World Cup in Australia since 2003 (remember?!) is underway and England this time will be a genuine threat.

Hallers