Statement: Club President Hits Back at Steve Borthwick's Pursuit of Coach

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) had been working swiftly to secure a replacement ahead of the upcoming Autumn Nations Series, but their efforts have hit a stumbling block with French clubs refusing to release Borthwick’s leading candidates.

Reports suggest Paul Gustard, defence coach at Stade Francais, and Joe El-Abd, head coach at Oyonnax, were on Borthwick’s shortlist to replace Jones. However, both French clubs have indicated that it would be "impossible" for either coach to leave their current roles early.

Despite Jones having a 12-month notice period, there had been hope within the RFU that a replacement could be confirmed soon. Now, the potential unavailability of Gustard and El-Abd poses a significant challenge for England as they approach a key phase in their international schedule.

Dougal Bendjaballah, president of Oyonnax, confirmed that no official contact had been made by the RFU regarding El-Abd but was firm in his stance that the head coach would not be allowed to leave before his contract expires.

“I have no contact with the RFU,” Bendjaballah stated. “But for Joe, the situation is clear: it is impossible for him to leave Oyonnax now. We have a deal, and he will finish the season.”

With time running out before the Autumn Nations Series, Borthwick’s search for a new defence coach has been thrown into uncertainty, leaving England potentially short-staffed ahead of a crucial period of international fixtures.

Sourcing several Q&A’s from down the years, including one with the Six Nations website, here are his top five opponents:

Known initially more for his braided hair and eyeliner, he added passing and kicking to his raw line-breaking power to become one of the great centres, capping his Test career with that superb World Cup final try.

Brian O'Driscoll SAID: "Same height as me [5-foot-11] and still 16-stone. Probably the most complete centre in the modern game."

Nicknamed The Snake because of his ability to slither through the smallest of gaps and strike with a sudden burst of speed. Brought fluidity to the All Blacks midfield with his intelligent passing and vision.

Brian O'Driscoll SAID: “I thought Conrad Smith was always one of the really difficult ones. He was nicknamed ‘Snake’ I think because of his hips and it doesn’t look like he’s going that fast but jeez, he can travel."

The ultimate players’ player. Did all the unseen, grafting work and just got on with his job in unassuming fashion, putting his body on the line. Able to excel right across the back row, he was a pivotal figure on two Lions trips and an England World Cup winner.

Brian O'Driscoll SAID: "Richard Hill, England No.6 that won the World Cup in 2003. He was a brilliant teammate but he made that team tick, he was the unsung hero in that world cup win. He was hard! I always liked playing with guys that were nails in the team, that really stood up and never took a backwards step."

The 73-cap France international was a member of the Toulouse team that reached the Heineken Cup final in 2003, 2004 and 2005, winning in 2003 and 2005. The centre was named as the man of the match in the 2005 Heineken Cup Final as Toulouse defeated Stade Français. 

Brian O'Driscoll SAID: "Jauzion was just incredible and was so hard to stop, with his offloading ability. France built so much off and around him. 6-foot-4 and probably 17-stone."

WIlkinson garnered 1,246 during his 97 caps for England and the Lions. His finest hour, of course, came in 2003, when he slotted the drop goal that won the World Cup.

Brian O'Driscoll SAID: “Even to just get a snapshot of what his mind works like now and how he thinks about things is pretty eye-opening as to what sort of detail he went into as a player,”

“He’s an out-and-out perfectionist, he just needs that 10 out of 10. I don’t think you ever achieve it and I think he beats himself up about it, but he got pretty close to 10 a lot of times.”