Carling questions quality of England coaches

Former England captain Will Carling has launched a scathing critique of the current England rugby coaching setup, arguing its inexperience is hindering the team's potential. While England has clawed its way back from an initial Six Nations defeat to Ireland with narrow victories over France and Scotland, Carling contends their style of play remains severely lacking.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Carling questioned the credentials of head coach Steve Borthwick and his team, stating, "You look at the calibre of the England coaching team and you have got to question whether that's the best we can put out there. Some are learning, some are very young and maybe lack the experience at Test level. Maybe that's what we're seeing impact on the players."

Borthwick, in his first international head coaching role, assembled a largely inexperienced backroom staff, bringing in Richard Wigglesworth and Kevin Sinfield from Leicester Tigers, both relatively early in their coaching careers. Defence coach Joe El-Abd is juggling international duties with a French club, while scrum coach Tom Harrison, at 33, is younger than England hooker Jamie George. The recent departure of Felix Jones, a key figure in South Africa's World Cup-winning coaching team, further underscores the perceived lack of experience.

Carling's assessment echoes concerns about England's recent form, a period marked by six defeats in seven Tests before the current Six Nations campaign. He acknowledged the team's recent wins but maintained, "I still think we're way off the potential of this team." His criticism has been met with pushback from some current players, including vice-captain Ellis Genge, who deemed such critiques "out of touch."

Carling, however, defended his position, emphasizing the wealth of experience among former players and the need for constructive criticism, even in the face of recent successes. He pointed out the high-pressure environment of international rugby and the inevitable scrutiny that comes with both wins and losses, drawing on his own extensive experience as captain of England for 59 matches, during which he led the team to three Grand Slams and a Rugby World Cup final. He concluded that while players might be sensitive to criticism, accepting diverse opinions is a necessary part of the game.