England need to get it right at scrum time

STEVE Borthwick’s decision to raid Leicester for his latest scrum coach – and England’s third in the last year – has raised a few eyebrows.

- NICK CAIN

Tom Harrison is the man in question, and he takes over from Richard Cockerill, and before that, Matt Proudfoot, who made his exit along with Eddie Jones.

England’s reputation for strong scrummaging was on the skids during the Jones era, with Neal Hatley and then Proudfoot unable to arrest the decline. There was a marginal improvement in the recent Six Nations under Cockerill, but it remains clear that Borthwick is faced with a weakness rather than a strength since he took over as head coach.

A clear example came in the record rout at Twickenham in March when French scrum dominance saw Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler rammed backwards by a French pack including backup tight-head Dorian Aldegheri. This resulted in a Greg Alldritt pick and go from the base before Charles Ollivon charged through to score.

Harrison has gained considerable kudos from Leicester’s Premiership title run last season, and was the scrum specialist Borthwick opted for after his first-choice candidate, Ian Peel, decided to stay with Saracens.

This did not prevent Borthwick from giving Harrison a big blast fanfare on his Red Rose appointment. He predicted that Harrison would have, “a real impact in an area which is fundamental to us as a team”.