THESE days the flak at Leicester never seems to stop flying, with the latest spat involving coach Steve Borthwick and the former Tigers scrum-half Austin Healey.
Healey believes the relentless energy of Steve Borthwick that delivered him success with England at Test level could be a hindrance to Leicester and a youth-inspired renaissance like that of Wasps.
With Geordan Murphy shown the door last week, Healey said: “My main concern is Borthwick. The fact that he is nonstop and is go, go, go. He has an energy for the sport that is unrivalled. “He is what we would term a ‘rugby nause', he just loves the game so much, but you need breaks when you are at a club and you are an international.
“It is full on at the moment when you get to Pennyhill Park or The Lensbury all the way to the game, and even if you have a Thursday off you still don't take your foot off the accelerator.
“When you are at a club there is so much that goes on that sometimes you just need to chill the hell out and let players develop and be themselves, and not try to force them.”
Borthwick had a sharp riposte for TV pundit Healey:
“I couldn't care less what's written,” he said after his team had posted an opening day win over Gloucester.
Borthwick's blunt response showed a hard-nosed edge which might reassure Leicester's demanding fans.
However, he warned them that the victory was only “one small step” on a “journey” to rebuild.
The journey had better not take too long, with Healey and others primed to open fire.
