It has been widely reported that England Rugby will announce on Monday that Steve Borthwick is the new head coach for the men's team.

The 43-year-old will fill the void left by Eddie Jones, who was sacked following a disappointing Autumn Nation Series and seven years in charge. 

If this indeed proves to be the case, Borthwick will leave his post as Leicester Tigers head coach and begin preparations for England's upcoming Six Nations campaign, which begins in early February.

The news comes as no surprise, as Borthwick has topped the list of likely candidates for the role since Jones was axed, largely because of his hugely impressive exploits with the Tigers. 

Borthwick took over in 2020 when the midlands club was in a state of crisis, struggling near the bottom of the Premiership table.

However, in the space of less than two years, Borthwick resurrected the once-great club. In June 2022, he led them to their first Premiership title since 2013. The accomplishment was achieved through a mix of rigid defensive discipline, imperious set-piece design and smart tactical know-how.

In his final interview with 𝗟𝗧𝗧𝗩, Steve Borthwick sits down to discuss his tenure as Leicester Tigers Head Coach. https://t.co/EU4ejbwxJL

— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) December 19, 2022

The former Bath and Saracens second row enjoyed a stellar playing career, which also included him captaining his country. His return to the national team makes plenty of sense, not least because of the close relationship he held with his predecessor.

Borthwick began his coaching journey with Japan, acting as Jones' assistant coach, right up until the 2015 World Cup. He then reunited with the Australian maverick to act as England's forwards coach from 2015-2020, serving briefly as the Bristol Bears' forwards coach in between.

While these experiences helped enhance Borthwick's resume and made him a natural replacement for Jones, the RFU likely will be most impressed by his latest exploits with the Tigers. 

Over the course of his two-and-a-half-year tenure, the club has won a league title and currently sits fifth in the Premiership table, two points adrift of the top 4, and have started their Champions Cup campaign unbeaten, brushing aside the Ospreys and Clermont Auvergne.

Speaking to the BBC after their 23-16 win over their French opponents, Borthwick refused to comment on his job status, casting doubt over his availability for Leicester's upcoming game against Gloucester on Dec.24

Indeed, the Guardian has reported Borthwick told his players after the game of his imminent departure.

"Right now, I want to enjoy this win," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "This team was built post the COVID pandemic and has had a lot of challenges through that period. I couldn't be more proud of how hard they train and their desire to want do well for each other and this club."

As Borthwick prepares to swap Welford Road for Twickenham, questions remain over who will populate his coaching core. Kevin Sinfield, the defensive coach for the Tigers, is tipped to join him, bringing a raft of cross-code experience from his days as an England rugby league international.

Meanwhile, the future of England's interim head coach, Richard Cockerill, and new defense coach Brett Hodgson, remains dubious. Both were in attendance at Leicester's latest Champions Cup triumph and will find out their new positions in the coming days.

It has been alleged that Borthwick is keen to give England team manager Richard Hill an elevated role, if appointed. Though the future prospects for attack coach Martin Gleeson and forwards coach Matt Proudfoot are not clear.

The coaching core may be shrouded in mystery, but the style of play Borthwick will favor is clear cut. 

His sides deliver disciplined rugby, elevating pragmatism above flashier moments. The Tigers aren't a box-office attraction like Harlequins, so England fans should expect an extension of this to be on show in the international arena.

But style of play is only part of the story. 

Anyone coming into the England head coaching role knows the ultimate job remit - win the World Cup - and with Paris 2023 just around the corner, Borthwick will have precious little time to chase the ultimate prize.

Written by Stefan Frost