After what was a successful season last year that saw the Leicester Tigers win the Premiership, Steve Borthwick is now feeling the consequences of success.
As the Premiership launched with 13 teams and 26 rounds of fixtures, there were always going to be some international clashes with the Tigers feeling the pain more than most.
“We have five players in the England 23 tomorrow, we also have Wales, South Africa and Fiji games that all involve players from our squad.” laments Borthwick after his squad was stretched to its thinnest in loss to Bath.
The positive backlash of last year means Joe Heyes, Jack van Poortvliet, and Guy Porter have all received England call-ups, key players that Borthwick used to be able to play during the November period.
“We are being tested, and one of the challenges is some teams have players away and you come up against teams that don’t”
This could be referring to the fact that Bath, with the recent struggles, have fallen out of contention with Eddie Jones, as only Joe Cokinasiga and the injured Will Stuart have received call-ups.
It isn’t just England where the Premiership Champions have lost players the likes of Julián Montoya (Argentina), Kini Murimurivalu (Fiji), Nephi Leatigaga (Samoa), Jasper Wiese (South Africa) and Tommy Reffell (Wales) are all not in use for Borthwick.
“Yes we always knew this year was going to be tough, with the most clashes within a single Premiership season and we Just have to get on with it “
While that was true until the devastating loss this season to both Worcester and Wasps meaning in the New Year, the Premiership has announced a restructure of the fixtures.
This means that 4/6 of the Six Nations weekends will have no Premiership games resulting in less strain on players and the weakened clubs.
“That isn’t for us to worry about now we have to improve and get better”
Despite Borthwick’s dismissive comments, these could be huge for the Tigers’ chances at retaining their title. Their Retention has not started all that well with four defeats already this season replicating the amount they had in the entire league campaign last year.
With the league taking a break for the Premiership Cup, Borthwick and co will be hoping for a fresh bill of health in those last few autumn games having already lost Tommy Reffell to injury.
