10 August 2023 , 17:03
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Steve Borthwick has hit back at Warren Gatland’s claim that Wales are “too fit” for England - saying his team is being primed for when it actually matters.
Gatland lobbed the grenade in the direction of Borthwick’s camp after Wales easily beat them in Cardiff last weekend, adding: “some of the English forwards were blowing a bit before half-time." Ahead of Saturday’s Twickenham rematch Borthwick initially refused to bite, saying only: “I focus my attention on my team.”
But he quickly returned to the subject to point out that judgement should be reserved for the World Cup: We are ensuring our training is tailored for where we need to be in four weeks’ time,” he said. “We believe we’re on the right track.
“This team is going to get sharper over the subsequent weeks. As the training volume changes, the sharpness in their legs will change and that will lead to an even better performance on the pitch. I don’t know what other teams are doing or saying about their players or our team," he added. "But we’re in a pretty good place right now.
“The programme is very specific and direct for what we need to do with the players we have. In Aled Walters, with his experience of getting a team right to win a World Cup, we’ve got a guy who’s proven to get a team together at the right time.”
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England, without a win since beating Wales back in February, launch their World Cup challenge against Argentina four weeks tomorrow when the prize is a whole lot bigger than bragging rights in a warm-up match. Nonetheless Gatland, the master of the wind-up, believes there is a psychological advantage to be gained now which can pay dividends in due course, with the two nations on a quarter-final collision course.
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Steve Borthwick has hit back at Warren Gatland (Getty Images)So he fired another shot across English bows before boarding the bus to Twickenham where they aim to complete a damaging home-and-away double, albeit against a much-strengthened Red Rose side. Owen Farrell is back as captain, Billy Vunipola passed fit to start his first game of rugby for four months.
Ben Earl is given his full debut three years after winning the first of his 15 caps off the bench, Courtney Lawes his first start under Borthwick. Undeterred, Gatland questioned whether the opposition would have the right mental focus given, unlike their Welsh counterparts, they already know they are going to the World Cup.
“I’m expecting a group of players desperate to perform,” he said. “The England players might be happy they are on the plane and we’ve got a group of players in the right headspace. For me it’s a good position to be in knowing the team have to perform.”
Borthwick worked under Gatland as part of his coaching team with the 2017 British and Irish Lions and knows how the wily Kiwi operates. He also knows he could do with a win to stop the chat - and will impress upon his men that actions speak louder words.
England: Steward; Arundell, Marchant, Lawrence, Daly; Farrell (capt), Van Poortvliet; Marler, George, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Dan, Genge, Cole, Hill, Willis, Youngs, Ford, Malins