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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nick Purewal

Steve Borthwick still bidding to bring Leicester lieutenants into England set-up

Target: Richard Wigglesworth

(Picture: Getty Images)

Richard Wigglesworth and Aled Walters remain top targets to join Steve Borthwick's new-look England set-up.

The in-demand pair are expected to stay at Leicester until the end of the season, especially with Wigglesworth now the club's interim head coach.

Ex-England scrum-half Wigglesworth and head of physical performance Walters were vital lieutenants in Borthwick's Leicester success.

England were unable to prise the men away from Welford Road at the same time as securing the services of Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield.

Wigglesworth and Walters were two key components of Leicester's 2022 Premiership title triumph and Borthwick holds both men in the highest esteem.

Nick Evans will operate as attack coach for the Six Nations, with both Harlequins and the RFU adamant the former New Zealand fly-half will return to The Stoop permanently afterwards.

Evans's addition raises hopes of a more progressive England approach, given he has fostered a free-flowing game at Harlequins.

Eddie Jones's previous attack coach, Martin Gleeson, currently remains with the RFU, but the former rugby league international is expected to move on.

Borthwick will start his England head coaching career in earnest against Scotland on February 4.

England are bidding to reverse fortunes after a dismal 2022, during which Jones paid with his job after just five wins in 12 Tests.

Borthwick will be without Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie for the start of the Six Nations.

The 29-year-old sustained an ankle injury in Exeter's 35-12 win over Northampton on Saturday.

Exeter boss Rob Baxter admitted the problem remains "serious", with Cowan-Dickie potentially requiring surgery. England, meanwhile, hope to have Courtney Lawes back from a glute injury in time for the Six Nations kick-off.

Lawes missed England's autumn campaign through head-injury issues, and had only just returned to action when picking up another concern.

Borthwick is set for good news on the injury front this Sunday, however, with Marcus Smith poised to return to action for Harlequins following ankle trouble.

A front-foot showing from the young tyro against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup would hand Borthwick and England a major boost.

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