Carlisle's Steve Borthwick is born leader, says Saracens chief Eddie Jones
Last updated 08:32, Friday, 03 October 2008
Cumbrian rugby star Steve Borthwick has been hailed as a great leader by Saracens chief Eddie Jones.
Borthwick, who led England on tour in New Zealand in June, was made Saracens co-captain alongside Andy Farrell in the summer following his arrival from Bath.
The 28-year-old Carlisle-born lock has already made a huge impression and Jones believes his new signing’s decision making, played a crucial role in their victory over Northampton Saints at the weekend.
Sarries opted to go for a scrum in the second half when they were trailing to the Saints, when there was an option of taking the three points. The decision paid off when Sarries went on to score two tries through Rodd Penney and Michael Owen.
Jones, Sarries' director of rugby, insists captain Borthwick's brave decision making proved the difference.
He said: “He made very good decisions and that is a good example of captaincy.
“Someone like Steve Borthwick, who is just a stand out leader, is of enormous value to us. When the score was 12-9 to Northampton he took the scrum.
“It was a good, tactical judgement. He could feel how the game was turning out and that was the crucial score. After that the game was dead.
“He has a good feel for people. He has come to a club so different from his previous club. We want some of the things they have at Bath here.
“He is interacting so well with the Jacksons and the De Kocks and the Vyvyans. We are developing our Saracens style of play and he is right at the forefront of it.”
Borthwick would love to retain the England captaincy despite the ignominy of having led them on the disastrous tour of New Zealand.
England suffered to back-to-back defeats in Auckland and Christchurch in the ill-fated tour which was marred by damaging allegations about off-the-field behaviour of several of Borthwick’s team-mates. He has been named in Martin Johnson’s 32-strong England Elite Player squad but England’s new coach is still to decide on who will lead the team.
England’s next game is not until November 8 when they host the Pacific Islands.
This is followed by three further tough Tests later that month against Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
