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In a month when public opinion polls have crashed and a senior analyst defected to the Springboks, the return of Courtney Lawes is a timely stroke of fortune for England coach Steve Borthwick.
Lawes is a generational talent and reports from France suggest he has not lost his abrasive edge. Many of Brive’s fans describe the impact of his two-year stint in Correze as the greatest of any international import.
The deal to bring him back to Sale happened over the course of 24 hours, and the whirlwind piece of business could have a significant impact on England’s World Cup plans – which Lawes is now pushing his case for. He will turn 38 before next year’s tournament but he has a natural athleticism that defies his years.
If he can stay fit and healthy then he could be one of Borthwick’s wildcard selections. England are well-stocked with back-row options so he will not be given a free ticket to Australia. He will need to prove he still has what it takes after 24 months in the French second tier, but his experience of playing in four World Cups and two Lions tours works heavily in his favour.
In the final round of the Six Nations, England’s performance against France was unrecognisable from the previous three matches after Borthwick moved Ollie Chessum from lock to blindside flanker. It provided an extra lineout option that helped stabilise England’s attack. Bar Alex Coles and Chandler Cunningham-South, Borthwick’s back-row options are not blessed with height, so Lawes can add valuable depth.
Injury rates are high – as George Martin will attest – and Borthwick could easily find himself in a situation where he needs Lawes as back-up. He is known for having a positive impact on the team environment.
Courtney Lawes has come out of international retirement and wants to go to the 2027 World Cup after joining Sale Sharks from Pro D2 side Brive
Steve Borthwick (centre) already has a host of hybrid lock/flanker options, including (L-R) Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles and captain Maro Itoje
| Player | Caps |
|---|---|
| 1. Ben Youngs, scrum-half | 127 (2010-23) |
| 2. Dan Cole, prop | 118 (2010-24) |
| 3. Jason Leonard, prop | 114 (1990-2023) |
| 4. Owen Farrell, fly-half/centre | 112 (2012-23) |
| 5. Jamie George, hooker | 110 (2015-) |
| 6. George Ford, fly-half | 108 (2014-) |
| 7. COURTNEY LAWES, lock/flanker | 105 (2009-23) |
| 8. Maro Itoje, lock/flanker | 102 (2016-) |
| 9. Danny Care, scrum-half | 101 (2008-24) |
He is yet to visit Sale’s training ground but his wife, Jess, is from Cheshire and her family are all Sale fans, so he is already familiar with the area. You suspect it will not take him too long to find his feet.
‘My body feels good and I’m still performing at a high level,’ said Lawes, who also attracted interest from Leicester, Newcastle Red Bulls and Stade Francais. ‘I feel like I can compete with the best of them, and then some, and I think if I retired now, I’d probably regret it when I was older.
‘There will be quite a few familiar faces at the club. I’ve played with a lot of the England lads and Dorian West was my first forwards coach as a professional player. I know the club is bringing in some brilliant players for next season too – guys like Joe Marchant and Alex Lozowski will add a lot on and off the field.
‘I’m officially un-retiring from international duty and I’d love to play for England again but first and foremost I want to play well for Sale and we’ll see what happens after that.’
It is a shrewd piece of business by Sale, who have underperformed in the PREM this season – though the return of Owen Farrell to Saracens offers a cautionary tale. His ability to bend a match with his will has lessened since his first stint in England.
Lawes was not selected for last year’s Lions tour and you suspect that will only add to his motivation. If he can get anywhere near his best in Sale colours, then Borthwick will finally have something to smile about.