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England front-row Ellis Genge is “buzzing” to be working with Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield again ahead of the start of the Six Nations this weekend.
Genge played under the pair of coaches at Leicester Tigers, where the robust star skippered the side to the Premiership title last season.
Sinfield was appointed as England defence coach soon after Borthwick was given the head coach role following the dismissal of Eddie Jones at the back end of last year.
Building something new
Genge, who moved back to his hometown club Bristol Bears after the title triumph, claims he wants to build a new relationship with the pair and “kick on” to something exciting.
“I probably did think that I wouldn’t be coached by him again, so I’m buzzing to be working back with Steve and Kev,” said Genge.
“But what’s unspoken is that we don’t want to rekindle that Leicester relationship. We want to kick on and create something new.
“We haven’t been speaking about the good old days, even though it was only last year. We’ve been trying to kick on and master what we’re trying to do here.”
Borthwick previously captained England in the final two years of his playing career and will now have the chance to steer the ship after working as Jones’s assistant before heading to Leicester in 2020.
“When he (Borthwick) was captain for England, it probably didn’t end the way he wanted it to end,” added Genge.
“He spoke really well in the meeting the other day. When you hear a coach who has been in that role, numerous times, and ended up captain and then having it taken away from him, you know he really understands.
“A lot of coaches always say you’ve got to be better at this, got to be better at that. And Steve does that, but he looks at your super strength and says, ‘That is what I want you to be incredible at’.
“He doesn’t shout, he doesn’t bawl, he’s not one of those that’s going to hang you out to dry in front of people. Don’t get me wrong, he will do if he needs to. But most of the time he speaks calmly and he knows what he’s trying to get across and he makes a very good point of doing that.”
Eager to get going
Genge insists the team is keen to get going under their new coach whilst only having good words for Jones.
“I don’t think we’re a desperate team but we are extremely keen (to get back out there),” he said.
“Eddie is an absolutely world-class coach. Rightly or wrongly, the regime has been changed. Whether or not it was on the back of that performance against South Africa, I can’t speak on that.
“But what I can tell you is that we’ve had a great week’s preparation, and we’re excited to move forward.”
The Red Rose begin their Six Nations campaign this weekend in the Calcutta Cup against Scotland at Twickenham.
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