As England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick would soon discover that invidious positions come with the job. The confusion surrounding Owen Farrell’s involvement in England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland. As well as their preparations before the match, is not of his making, but he will likely have to clean it up.
To summarise, Farrell is banned for three matches, all against Saracens. Because the disciplinary panel did not consider England games until Borthwick confirmed his selection. The 28 January Premier League match versus Bristol was one he will never play in.
The panel left the door open for Farrell’s suspension to be revised to include the Calcutta Cup if his probable inclusion in Borthwick’s team on Monday is found to be a sufficient “change in circumstances.”
First, Borthwick is unlikely to select Farrell if there is a chance that the list of prohibited matches will be altered. The RFU’s head of discipline is David Barnes, a former teammate of Borthwick’s from Bath. And it would be irresponsible for the incoming head coach not to find out precisely what may occur if he adds Farrell to his squad on Monday.
Borthwick would be smart to emphasize that the disciplinary department does not disagree with the RFU’s assertion that Farrell could theoretically be released to face Bristol, even though such a scenario would never occur.
England coach Borthwick faces Owen Farrell issue.
The current expectation is that Farrell will be chosen by Borthwick on Monday. That he will work closely with England before the Six Nations begins, and that he will play against Scotland.
Borthwick might avoid the resulting criticism. If he omits Farrell from the squad until his suspension expires on or after January 28. And then adds him to the team at the earliest subsequent opportunity, the beginning of the Scotland week.
However, Farrell’s absence would be acutely felt given that a concussion delayed his arrival in camp before the autumn series. And England’s campaign began with a loss to Argentina.
Borthwick faces the issue of explaining or justifying his selection of Farrell, provided he does so on Monday. And his alternatives are limited. He will be required to do a dangerous stunt.
If Eddie Jones were still in charge, he might have easily dismissed the situation with a one-liner. And a request that his interrogator refrain from asking stupid questions. Playing the villain and commanding he ignore the outside noise suited him in these circumstances.
It may have gotten him into problems at times. Declaring he didn’t care what people thought after South Africa’s defeat was a mistake. But overall it was a successful tactic. Borthwick cannot, however, afford to play the villain at this point in his term. A few weeks ago, he portrayed himself as a new leader. Using adjectives like honesty and authenticity to describe his leadership.
RFU pays a hefty sum to have access to its players
He may have to argue that he intended to do so all along if he wishes to trick the system by doubling down on the possibility that Farrell could be released for the Bristol match. Borthwick’s claim that he will release Farrell back to Saracens for a match in which he cannot participate may perhaps lead us into some type of Twilight Zone.
Borthwick might bolster his case by pointing out that while Jones would never have released players back to their clubs on the weekend in question, this is a new England age, and it demands suspension of disbelief to believe that he would have allowed Farrell to play against Bristol.
The entire premise is problematic because the RFU pays a hefty sum to have access to its players for this extra week before the Six Nations, a sum that union officials believe is excessive.
It prevents them from playing for their clubs, therefore the RFU’s assertion that the weekend in question is “club time” is equal to eating its cake and having it too.
The final option, which would limit the damage, is for Borthwick to engage with the perception that it is a messy situation. To admit that England and the RFU do not emerge from it in the best light. But to explain that the strict terms of the panel’s judgment. And the elite player squad agreement allow for a loophole to be exploited.
Moreover, Farrell is too valuable a player to leave out to avoid reputational damage. It appears to be the first significant test of Borthwick’s term. And for him to succeed, he must at least keep his word.
