For Borthwick, who made 57 England appearances, the Six Nations is more than just a rugby competition. "It’s special," he says. "It has an enormous impact, and I’m very conscious of the impact it has upon generations of England supporters." He vividly describes the inter-household rivalries that come alive on the weekend, with different sofas in the living room adorned with different team shirts. "There’s that friendly animosity on a Six Nations matchday," he adds with a smile.
England shocked many in beating France in a thrilling single-point victory in round two of the Championship, in what seemed a truer measure of their abilities than the lacklustre loss to Ireland on the opening weekend. It was a statement win for Borthwick, following last year's equallt dramatic late win against Ireland.
Reflecting on his coaching journey, Borthwick views himself as the product of their experiences and learnings. "Everybody [in my career] has contributed in some way, shape or form," notes the 45-year-old. As a player, he says he always aimed to maximise his potential, and as a coach, he strives to help players realise their ambitions. Perhaps it's no great concidence that his chosen captain this year is, as he once was, a second row who played for Saracens.
Borthwick acknowledges the great coaches who have influenced his career. During his time as a second row with Bath, Saracens and England, he worked with some big-name coaches. At the Recreation Ground there was Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton, John Connolly and Michael Foley; while at Saracens he came under the influence of Eddie Jones and Brendan Venter. Each left a lasting impact, and that's before you add Sir Clive Woodward to the list. "Whilst I was very young and very much a peripheral England squad member, I was fortunate to be in those meeting rooms with Clive," says the Cumbrian, who won his first England cap during the 2001 Six Nations in a 48-19 rout of France.
When asked about the challenges of sticking to a playing philosophy in a rapidly evolving game, Borthwick is quick to distinguishes between the two. "Philosophy and trends are different things," he explains. "Philosophy is the beliefs you have, the behaviours you want to exhibit, those things are consistent."
He emphasises the importance of evolving and being aware of current trends while maintaining clear expectations and beliefs about how the game should be played. "But it’s one of the beauties of our sport: it’s forever just changing slightly," he adds. "And then there are different competitions, different opposition – you have to make little tweaks there as well."
Comparing the game he played to today’s rugby, Borthwick highlights the increased speed and power of modern players. He cautions against comparing eras, noting that what was best in one era may not be best in another. "What you’ve got to do is ask, ‘What does it need right now to be the best?’" he says. "You’ve got to be so wary when you start comparing eras, because what was the best in one era doesn’t mean it’ll be the best in another."
He finds gratification in players' growth as both athletes and individuals. "You can’t separate the two," he asserts. "I can’t comment on other sports, but rugby is a game that tests you physically, emotionally, it tests your thinking. It tests the very heart of you when you’re in the biggest, most intense encounters. And that’s what the Six Nations is, and that’s why it’s called ‘Test rugby’ as far as I’m concerned.
"You find out about each other, you find out about your teammates, so I think the growth, the beliefs and the behaviours you have inside you, they’re always exhibited on the rugby pitch.
"There are those ones who do it a few times, then there are those who perform and keep doing it – keep stepping into the arena and keep performing. Guys who have 50, 60, 70, 100 caps.
"Those competitors demand respect."
England v Scotland, Saturday 22nd February, 16:45, Allianz Stadium.
