In February 2023, during a press conference a couple of days prior to his second game as head coach, Steve Borthwick was discussing England’s midfield.
“As I look down the depth chart, there are some very good young centres in England,” he said, before a pregnant pause. “But they are young.”
The implication was that supporters would need to be patient for Borthwick to address a problematic position. Sure enough, two years on, there is mounting evidence to suggest that midfield could be an area of strength for England over the coming period.