Borthwick’s World Cup squad short on fizz

England’s 33-man Rugby World Cup party for France is certainly not one to encourage much champagne-fuelled excitement among connoisseurs of expansive, enterprising rugby.

SHORT ON SPARK? England head coach Steve Borthwick (centre right) during the training session at The Lensbury Resort. Pic:: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire.

Back in the southern hemisphere it is easy to imagine Eddie Jones leaning back in his chair and smiling wryly. 

We will never know exactly what England squad the previous head coach would have chosen but he will definitely recognise the theme running through it. Let’s just say those hoping Jones’s exit would release a fizzing new sense of red-rose adventure with an enticing top note of “Bazball” are still waiting for the cork to burst from the bottle.