England 2023 - Post 6N and beyond

England’s base camp began on a Monday morning in Bagshot, under the sort of sunshine that makes one want to lie down. Steve Borthwick does not have that luxury. As he has stressed on numerous occasions, England are playing catch-up. And his World Cup started here.

This period, akin to a club pre-season and crucial for international sides because of its rarity, presents him with an opportunity to immerse himself in coaching and strategy; two big passions. It is also the first time that his backroom team, bolstered by three more lieutenants recruited from Leicester Tigers, has assembled. The ebullient Aled Walters, a reigning World Cup champion from his time with the Springboks, was particularly prominent. Richard Wigglesworth, Tom Harrison and Tony Roques were also among more familiar faces such as Kevin Sinfield, Richard Hill and Tom Tombleson.

Two more figures have been seconded to the set-up. Jonas Dodoo, a specialist sprint coach who works with players including Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga individually, is back with England this summer on a consultancy basis. He visited camps during the Eddie Jones era and oversaw the backs’ warm-up before Monday’s session. In Henry Arundell, Will Joseph, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Jonny May, Cadan Murley and Cokanasiga, Dodoo has some explosive athletes to mentor straightaway.

Joe Gray, the former Northampton, Harlequins and Saracens hooker who won a single cap for England against New Zealand nine years ago, will be around until the World Cup to help with line-out throwing. Renowned for set-piece solidity in his playing days, the 34-year-old has worked his way up the coaching ranks. Previously at Wimbledon and then Barnes in the National Leagues, he became London Scottish head coach prior to the 2022-23 Championship season.

Walters took charge of the forwards for the first part of the session. Borthwick has been effusive about the Welshman for years, continually labelling him as another rugby coach rather than merely a fitness guru. Sure enough, Walters put the heavies through handling drills as well as exercises to hone support play and footwork. Charisma, man management and good humour are regarded as three of his chief strengths, and it was clear that new relationships are being forged. Jamie Blamire, Jack Walker and Kyle Sinckler, none of them Tigers, were the recipients of enthusiastic praise for their side-stepping. Less than a month since Leicester lost in the Premiership semi-final, Walters has learned names and is already motivating a new group. This will be vital for the really tough stuff.

Rest protocols mean that Borthwick has not yet been able to include individuals from the four teams to have reached the Premiership semi-finalists: Saracens, Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints and Leicester. Jack Willis, surely bound for the final squad of 33 that will be announced on Aug 7, still has one more game left in the current season, having helped Toulouse to a mouth-watering Top 14 final against La Rochelle.

Those circumstances render the next few weeks as something of a soft launch, not that the intensity will be any less for those aiming to impress. Anyway, a glimpse of Monday’s on-pitch session at Pennyhill Park provided intriguing clues as to the upcoming months of pain-staking preparation.

Joe Marler was scheduled to arrive later on Monday. The rest of the 28-man squad took the field. Val Rapava-Ruskin was the first out from the changing rooms. Tom Pearson’s height makes him an imposing figure close up. Another former London Irish man, Will Joseph, appeared in good condition despite a season beset by injuries. Sam Underhill looked buoyant, with a current Bath colleague in Ted Hill and a former back-row buddy in Zach Mercer for company. Harry Randall, Ben Spencer and Danny Care are the first set of scrum-halves to collaborate with Wigglesworth.

Another player, Luke Cowan-Dickie, gave cause for supporters of England – and, indeed, of Sale Sharks – to be cheerful. Alongside Billy Vunipola and Ollie Chessum, neither of whom came on to the pitch on Monday, the hooker was one of three injured players said to be attending the camp “to continue their rehabilitation from injury”. Cowan-Dickie took part in most of Walters’ drills, running freely. At one stage, he accidentally flipped over a weighted sled to widespread laughter. Grinning himself, he explained it as over-enthusiasm. Who could blame him? Without a game since January, Cowan-Dickie must feel like a coiled spring. Should he continue to progress, though, England’s depth chart at hooker will seem far stronger.

Sept 9, and a meeting with Argentina in Marseille, represents the beginning of Borthwick’s World Cup campaign. Time is ticking, but you sensed he was in his element as the final countdown kicked off.

Rugby Fan wrote:Telegraph has a first day summary of the camp, highlighting the roles of some of the new coaches.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/06/12/england-rugby-world-cup-training-camp-what-we-learned/

England’s base camp began on a Monday morning in Bagshot, under the sort of sunshine that makes one want to lie down. Steve Borthwick does not have that luxury. As he has stressed on numerous occasions, England are playing catch-up. And his World Cup started here.

This period, akin to a club pre-season and crucial for international sides because of its rarity, presents him with an opportunity to immerse himself in coaching and strategy; two big passions. It is also the first time that his backroom team, bolstered by three more lieutenants recruited from Leicester Tigers, has assembled. The ebullient Aled Walters, a reigning World Cup champion from his time with the Springboks, was particularly prominent. Richard Wigglesworth, Tom Harrison and Tony Roques were also among more familiar faces such as Kevin Sinfield, Richard Hill and Tom Tombleson.

Two more figures have been seconded to the set-up. Jonas Dodoo, a specialist sprint coach who works with players including Anthony Watson and Joe Cokanasiga individually, is back with England this summer on a consultancy basis. He visited camps during the Eddie Jones era and oversaw the backs’ warm-up before Monday’s session. In Henry Arundell, Will Joseph, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Jonny May, Cadan Murley and Cokanasiga, Dodoo has some explosive athletes to mentor straightaway.

Joe Gray, the former Northampton, Harlequins and Saracens hooker who won a single cap for England against New Zealand nine years ago, will be around until the World Cup to help with line-out throwing. Renowned for set-piece solidity in his playing days, the 34-year-old has worked his way up the coaching ranks. Previously at Wimbledon and then Barnes in the National Leagues, he became London Scottish head coach prior to the 2022-23 Championship season.

Walters took charge of the forwards for the first part of the session. Borthwick has been effusive about the Welshman for years, continually labelling him as another rugby coach rather than merely a fitness guru. Sure enough, Walters put the heavies through handling drills as well as exercises to hone support play and footwork. Charisma, man management and good humour are regarded as three of his chief strengths, and it was clear that new relationships are being forged. Jamie Blamire, Jack Walker and Kyle Sinckler, none of them Tigers, were the recipients of enthusiastic praise for their side-stepping. Less than a month since Leicester lost in the Premiership semi-final, Walters has learned names and is already motivating a new group. This will be vital for the really tough stuff.

Rest protocols mean that Borthwick has not yet been able to include individuals from the four teams to have reached the Premiership semi-finalists: Saracens, Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints and Leicester. Jack Willis, surely bound for the final squad of 33 that will be announced on Aug 7, still has one more game left in the current season, having helped Toulouse to a mouth-watering Top 14 final against La Rochelle.

Those circumstances render the next few weeks as something of a soft launch, not that the intensity will be any less for those aiming to impress. Anyway, a glimpse of Monday’s on-pitch session at Pennyhill Park provided intriguing clues as to the upcoming months of pain-staking preparation.

Joe Marler was scheduled to arrive later on Monday. The rest of the 28-man squad took the field. Val Rapava-Ruskin was the first out from the changing rooms. Tom Pearson’s height makes him an imposing figure close up. Another former London Irish man, Will Joseph, appeared in good condition despite a season beset by injuries. Sam Underhill looked buoyant, with a current Bath colleague in Ted Hill and a former back-row buddy in Zach Mercer for company. Harry Randall, Ben Spencer and Danny Care are the first set of scrum-halves to collaborate with Wigglesworth.

Another player, Luke Cowan-Dickie, gave cause for supporters of England – and, indeed, of Sale Sharks – to be cheerful. Alongside Billy Vunipola and Ollie Chessum, neither of whom came on to the pitch on Monday, the hooker was one of three injured players said to be attending the camp “to continue their rehabilitation from injury”. Cowan-Dickie took part in most of Walters’ drills, running freely. At one stage, he accidentally flipped over a weighted sled to widespread laughter. Grinning himself, he explained it as over-enthusiasm. Who could blame him? Without a game since January, Cowan-Dickie must feel like a coiled spring. Should he continue to progress, though, England’s depth chart at hooker will seem far stronger.

Sept 9, and a meeting with Argentina in Marseille, represents the beginning of Borthwick’s World Cup campaign. Time is ticking, but you sensed he was in his element as the final countdown kicked off.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Always love a look at the stats above. I do find it extremely difficult for them alone to sway me. They do have a habit of lying. Is anyone for instance now swayed and going from thinking Hill should be in or around the team to thinking that Earl is hard done to?

Geordie wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Always love a look at the stats above. I do find it extremely difficult for them alone to sway me. They do have a habit of lying. Is anyone for instance now swayed and going from thinking Hill should be in or around the team to thinking that Earl is hard done to?

Thats the thing...Stats dont tell the whole story. But they do tell alot. I am quite surprised by some of them. But Earl is playing in a dominant team as a flying 7. Many on hear have called for him to be in to be fair. Top player.

Hills stats might be because hes being asked to play a certain way...or in an underwhelming bath side. I guess Borthwick will get a good look at him now and if hes not picked it will certainly tell a story.

Pearson was second top of the tackle stats with 240 aswell behind Alex Moon with 247. Interestingly Fraser Dingwall had 203 tackles to his name...pretty good going.

Id love to see what Chessum and George Martins stats were in all these.  

It's hard not to be impressed and excited for what's round the corner when you hear that Walters in a mere month has learned names.

Geordie wrote:Are you bringing Jon Webb out for the experienced team full back?

Interesting teams 7.5...be interesting to see who would come out on top...

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Geordie wrote:Are you bringing Jon Webb out for the experienced team full back?

Interesting teams 7.5...be interesting to see who would come out on top...

lol. Easy. The one I picked!

Geordie wrote:Rumours Jack Willis will definitely be joining shortly, as will Launchbury

Alex Spink in The Mirror wrote:Steve Borthwick has admitted England were unfit for the purpose of competing for Six Nations glory.

They avoided annihilation at the Aviva, a notable improvement on France the week before, pushing the world’s top side hard for an hour. But England still finished with a losing record for the third straight championship - a hat-trick of humiliation for rugby’s best resourced nation.

The head coach made no attempt to sugarcoat the facts, running a mile from blaming defeat on Freddie Steward’s contentious first half red card. Instead, he pointed to fitness levels, leaving the players in no doubt he expects a marked improvement before they reassemble to prepare for the World Cup.

“We have to make sure we get the condition of the players right,” he said. “We don’t want to spend the World Cup camp trying to get fit. We want to use it to get better.”

Borthwick could have dwelt on improvement in attitude, commitment, energy and desire against opposition worthy of their Grand Slam, only he rightly considers these to be non-negotiables.

He preferred to drill into what he sees as one of the fundamental reasons England now lags so far behind the best in the business. “The conditioning of the players has improved through the tournament," he said, rather damning with faint praise. “If you reflect on the last 20 minutes of the Scotland game, which was the first we played, you saw the drop off which is where Scotland beat us. “Then you look at the conditioning of the team against what we know is a very fit and athletic Ireland team and, playing with numbers down for a considerable period of time, I think everyone could see the difference.”

The fault line in English rugby is well known. The clubs hold the player contracts, each are individual businesses with a style of play tailored to suit them rather than England.

“Once the players leave here and return to their clubs, we have no control over them,” Borthwick said. “We will have conversations with them and their clubs to say what we would like, but ultimately we don’t have any control over that.”

This is the continued legacy of the RFU falling asleep at the wheel when the game turned professional. Had they not, England might now have the player control Ireland so benefit from.

Borthwick dreams of a system that enables both club and international game to thrive but is not holding his breath. “That is what we all want,” he said. “A really competitive, vibrant Premiership that produces the best possible players in a condition ready to be able to compete at the top of Test rugby.

“What we don’t want is multiple Six Nations with only a couple of wins.”

The Cumbrian has never had it easy with England, but the 2007 World Cup showed him that hard work over a short period can pay off. “That 36-0 game crossed my mind this week,” he said, referring to England’s pool trouncing by South Africa a month before they met again in the Final. “We had to deal with that and make plans, moving forward, about what we were going to do. The team learned fast then, it's learning fast now.”

yappysnap wrote:Most interesting part of that article was the progression of Joe Grey, a very smart cooky who might get a Prem gig in the future.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Oh it is an excuse. Or he knew it was issue and his subs were extremely badly implemented. Or both. I'm not hiding my views that I think they've all started badly.

I'm not surprised that there's a list of journalists more than ready to give him the benefit of the doubt as the majority wanted him in.

king_carlos wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Oh it is an excuse. Or he knew it was issue and his subs were extremely badly implemented. Or both. I'm not hiding my views that I think they've all started badly.

I'm not surprised that there's a list of journalists more than ready to give him the benefit of the doubt as the majority wanted him in.

Ah well, I tried. You're basically on you own in that view from what I've seen of pundits, commentators, podcasters and fans views of it. General views seem to be it was just a candid and justified response given almost everyone else seems in agreement that the side clearly weren't fit.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Oh it is an excuse. Or he knew it was issue and his subs were extremely badly implemented. Or both. I'm not hiding my views that I think they've all started badly.

I'm not surprised that there's a list of journalists more than ready to give him the benefit of the doubt as the majority wanted him in.

Ah well, I tried. You're basically on you own in that view from what I've seen of pundits, commentators, podcasters and fans views of it. General views seem to be it was just a candid and justified response given almost everyone else seems in agreement that the side clearly weren't fit.

Yeah not going to change my view on that. He was so concerned he was flogging players like George all game offering no time or trust to guys like walker. And to an extent vP. I'm happy he wants to throw it out there, just don't think it bodes well. 1 tough WC and those journalists will all have their knives out and if he offers reasons like he did it won't go down well. Hope I'm wrong and we have a good time under him but I don't think he was the right choice and I'm not going to pretend I think its going well.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Oh it is an excuse. Or he knew it was issue and his subs were extremely badly implemented. Or both. I'm not hiding my views that I think they've all started badly.

I'm not surprised that there's a list of journalists more than ready to give him the benefit of the doubt as the majority wanted him in.

Ah well, I tried. You're basically on you own in that view from what I've seen of pundits, commentators, podcasters and fans views of it. General views seem to be it was just a candid and justified response given almost everyone else seems in agreement that the side clearly weren't fit.

Yeah not going to change my view on that. He was so concerned he was flogging players like George all game offering no time or trust to guys like walker. And to an extent vP. I'm happy he wants to throw it out there, just don't think it bodes well. 1 tough WC and those journalists will all have their knives out and if he offers reasons like he did it won't go down well. Hope I'm wrong and we have a good time under him but I don't think he was the right choice and I'm not going to pretend I think its going well.

No 7&1/2 wrote:True enough to an extent. He'd have definitely turned to the bench earlier had LCD been there I reckon but then don't complain on lack of fitness. And true for youngs his introduction was calamitous. And again re vunipola don't blame fitness if it's your own judgement and picks you don't trust.

mountain man wrote:Was it confirmed that only Borthwick was approached? I know a few ruled themselves out beforehand. I'd have liked O'Gara in but he was one who stated he wasn't interested at this time.

No 7&1/2 wrote:You see it as fact king, I don't. But going back to the point of Borthwick's; if he does believe this fitness thing....why is he flogging players who were tiring? Why is convincing Genge to play when clearly struggling with illness a good idea?

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:You see it as fact king, I don't. But going back to the point of Borthwick's; if he does believe this fitness thing....why is he flogging players who were tiring? Why is convincing Genge to play when clearly struggling with illness a good idea?

Because the alternative was starting Mako against the French (I think you said) with Rodd on the bench. Scrum would have been sent rapidly in reverse.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'm sure the conversation was with Ellis and along the lines of "are you going to be ok to play?" And Ellis said "yes". Just like Marler who hadn't recovered from COVID adequately Vs SA. The player wanted to play and the team needed them. Morale wise it was probably a lift seeing a leader refuse to use the excuse of illness to hide away from the Scotland defeat and to come out not 100% because he wants to do a job for the team.

There's a time for development and when you don't have a settled pack and need a win isn't it.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Yeah quite possibly, sometimes it takes a certain amount of bravery to say I'm not there and he does indicate he felt he couldn't pull out. Development is probably the hardest part of the job isn't it? The knife edge of getting people up to speed while maintaining results and that's why often it takes an injury for people to get their chance to shine.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Think it was Wales but yeah for me Vunipola is rapidly going backwards and concerns over his form are very valid. I don't even think he stands out in the loose compared to others. But doesn't that in itself say we need to build a bit of depth in some positions? If you're right and you very well could be the coaches are saying, we realise you're not fit enough Ellis, but even with that and the fact you're quite ill we have to start you as we don't think any of the others are good enough. We weren't really playing for anything other than development at that point following the Scotland defeat. So fitness is a big thing but was it being mitigated or managed adequately? Put that aside playing that pressure on players to play when ill, not sure that's entirely great for longer term morale etc. I know that players rarely if ever play at 100% condition but still.

When Ellis Genge reported for duty at Pennyhill Park on Sunday, as one of 28 players selected by Steve Borthwick for England’s first World Cup training camp, two small parts of the boisterous loosehead were missing, removed since his last visit in March.

During the Six Nations, in the lead up to England’s victory over Wales in Cardiff, Genge was suffering from a bout of the most severe tonsillitis. Incredibly, Genge managed to play for 54 minutes and was one of England’s standouts, but it was agreed that once Bristol’s season concluded in May, the two offending articles would be taken out. The operation’s 12-day convalescence denied Genge a post-season holiday with the beach traded for broth.

“I felt like I was going to die,” Genge, 28, tells Telegraph Sport. “I get chronic tonsillitis anyway but usually around November. This time it came in late February, the month of my birthday - what a present that was!

“Steve asked: ‘Can you do it?’ It was too close to the game to pull out. But I had all sorts - enough diclofenac to put an elephant to sleep. All the meds, cracked on. I was so ill after the match that I was shaking.

“We agreed that when I got an extended period of time off I’d get my tonsils out. It was a rough 12 days. I wanted to go away after but obviously with the World Cup coming up I felt like I had to train and put on the weight and muscle that I had lost during that 12-day period of not being able to eat. I don’t mind making the sacrifice now; if I get to go to another World Cup then it will all be worth it.”

As Genge sits in Syn, the Leicester gym he co-owns with former team-mate Sam Aspland-Robinson, the tonsil revelation comes as a dagger through the heart of the “game’s gone soft” brigade.

Tonsil-less the loosehead might be, but he is still the burly and baseball-capped Genge that we have always known. He is the gnarly prop, with “two hard shoulders, like the M5”, about to embark on a squat session using around 200kg of weights. But Genge is also a socio-economic campaigner; a leader; and, with his gym, an eco-warrior and entrepreneur.

The 48-cap loosehead is Bristolian and presently a Bear, but this gym is just a stone’s throw from Welford Road, the home of his former club, Leicester. In his “eco-conscious” gym, the flooring was upcycled from a basketball court while the water dispenser tells you how much plastic you’ve saved by refilling your bottle.

“Sam and I were both playing for Leicester when we decided we wanted to open a gym,” Genge says. “The way it pieced together, I’m back in Bristol and Sam’s here full-time. But we want to branch out - Bristol is turning green rapidly, so that will probably be our next spot.

“We’re 100 per cent owners - 50/50 - but to get the stuff that we wanted initially into the gym… kinetic floor plates which, when you drop weights, harness the energy and put it back onto the grid, all this amazing stuff they have in the US, it costs £10,000 a square metre for this stuff. And we just couldn’t afford it.

“So, what we did was make sure that everything was sustainably sourced - and from UK companies. We worked with local providers for the steel - it cost a bit more but it was the best way. We worked with [former England hooker] Phil Greening from Athletic Factory, he helped us with all the designs, trying to keep a low carbon footprint. We used Topps Tiles [a Leicester firm] for the bathrooms. We had to change from being ‘fully sustainable’ to ‘eco conscious’ just because - and I’ve discovered this in buying an electric car - it all sounds brilliant but, the truth is, in terms of the financials, it’s just not viable for everyone right now. Solar panels are £12k each. Air-source heating is £17k. It costs so much for people to turn that green leaf.

“The infrastructure of the country is not in line - and neither are people’s priorities, because it doesn’t make money. And people want to make money.”

Making money is one thing but Genge, unashamedly, wants to win. After the Tigers’ Premiership triumph in 2022 - where the loosehead skippered Leicester with Borthwick as coach - that will has developed into a fixation. Although “not happy” with last season on a personal note, he has the bit between his teeth for the road to the World Cup, especially after a sobering maiden voyage as captain of his country: a record Twickenham loss to France.

“It’s a weird situation because my first game as Leicester captain, under Steve, was the record defeat on the road against Wasps,” he says. “Straight after the [France] game, I felt the same emotions as I felt then but I’d already been through them, so it didn’t hurt as much. Weird, isn’t it? You’re the record losing captain at Twickenham. And I say that with a smile on my face, not because I find it funny but it just seems to be a part of me, that sort of underdog thing of being chucked in at the deep end, drowning, and then floating back to the surface and coming out with a strong front crawl. ‘Let’s chuck him in and see if he swims.’”

“I made a conscious decision to unapologetically be myself”
What bodes well for England is that, more often than not, Genge does swim. Painted as a “thug” for early parts of his career, he has had to do more than most to prove the doubters wrong. Genge has now captained his country, skippered a Premiership title-winning side, and is England’s first-choice loosehead. He is one of English rugby’s icons and, regarding the age-old debate of rugby selling its personalities in a more vibrant fashion, for Genge, authenticity is key.

“I think the issue is that people know that now, that rugby needs more of that, so I see a lot of people trying to portray themselves as something they’re not,” he says. “That’s not the answer. Accepting people for being themselves is the answer. Not everyone needs to be from Knowle West and get arrested when they’re growing up to then become a cult hero in rugby. If we start to accept people for solely being themselves - whether like or dislike - then you can still get on and play with each other on the pitch. Off the pitch, you haven’t got to be best friends.

“For a period in my career, I was told to stop being so aggressive and confrontational. I was reading tweets and stuff on social media: ‘I hate Genge, he’s a thug, he’s this, he’s that, he’s got a slit in his eyebrow, another tramline, he’s got gold teeth.’ They were painting me as an outright thug! People started saying my discipline was terrible - I’d never had a red card in my life! But it paints this picture very quickly.

“I’m not saying I hate people in rugby, I’m saying that I made a conscious decision about three years ago to say ‘this is me’ and to unapologetically be myself.”

For now, however, that metaphorical front crawl will be traded for literal sprinting at Pennyhill Park. For Genge, who reunites with fitness guru Aled Walters from his Leicester days, it is all about feeding off the collective to get in a position to compete in France in September.

“A lot of it is mindset,” Genge says. “I listen to a lot of David Goggins stuff. His knees are shot and he just carries on running, goes to that dark place and enjoys doing it. I’m not very good at running but I like the psychology behind it. And, when I’m blowing, I enjoy saying: ‘F--- that, nah, I’m going to keep going despite the pain.’ I’m dribbling - but I enjoy being in that place. But only in a team environment - I don’t like doing it on my own. I like to be in a hole with other people. I’m not great at pushing myself against myself. I need someone to drive me.

“I hear people speak about who’s going to win the World Cup and obviously there’s France, Ireland, South Africa, Eddie [Jones] going to Australia, all these names get chucked in. It doesn’t seem to be England! That’s never a bad thing; never a bad thing to be the underdog.”

Genge, more than anyone, would know.

king_carlos wrote:What Sam and Sarge have said basically.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Think it was Wales but yeah for me Vunipola is rapidly going backwards and concerns over his form are very valid. I don't even think he stands out in the loose compared to others. But doesn't that in itself say we need to build a bit of depth in some positions? If you're right and you very well could be the coaches are saying, we realise you're not fit enough Ellis, but even with that and the fact you're quite ill we have to start you as we don't think any of the others are good enough. We weren't really playing for anything other than development at that point following the Scotland defeat. So fitness is a big thing but was it being mitigated or managed adequately? Put that aside playing that pressure on players to play when ill, not sure that's entirely great for longer term morale etc. I know that players rarely if ever play at 100% condition but still.

I do feel it's fair to point out here that your biggest thing coming out of the Jones era of, "we're building for a RWC", was the next setup trying to win every single game and not treating tournaments outside the RWC as development tools...

Only Genge will know if he was pressured inappropriately. What we do know is he has a fantastic working relationship with Borthwick and judging by the snippets I've seen from the interview (full thing is behind a paywall) he was asked if he could play and said yes.

Players being asked to play through injuries and illness is in no way a new thing from Borthwick's setup though as you say. I've taken diclofenac (hereditary migraines and arthritis from being a chef) and it gave me nasty nausea, awful motion sickness so I'm very aware it's not a fun drug. It's no secret that corticosteroids and painkillers are used to a ludicrous extent in rugby though. Even players as high profile as BOD have spoken about prescription painkillers being handed out like tic-tac's on game day. Along with PEDs in schoolboy rugby and recreational drugs in the senior game, that abuse of 'legal' drugs just to get players on the pitch is part of rugby's dark underbelly we try not to look at. I bet Doc has a few stories to tell!