Steve Borthwick will bring a "clarity" to England as their new boss, with defence coach Kevin Sinfield indicating they will prioritise memories over medals.

The duo departed Leicester Tigers last month, where they won the Premiership together, to take charge at Twickenham following Eddies Jones' exit.

With only an incoming Six Nations campaign and a handful of friendlies before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in September, the pair will immediately have their hands full.

But Sinfield is relishing the challenge, and has outlined how the two of them will strive to unite a side that struggled across a bruising November campaign.

"We will provide an environment where there is clarity, but also there is a togetherness and a fight and a spirit where they look after each other and care for each other," he told BBC Sport.

"That is really important to us. We need to have a system, we need to understand each other's roles within that, we need to understand within that we will get stuff wrong.

"But I think if they can understand that the things that are important in your career, [we will be alright].

"You can have a load of money and a load of medals, but ultimately the friendship and the memories are what is really, really important."

The second-in-command post with England marks a meteoric rise through the ranks for Sinfield, who cut his teeth as a player in rugby league with Leeds Rhinos.

Among the most successful players of the modern British game, he adds that he can feel the desire among his new charges, and that his role is to successfully translate it to the pitch.

"I think they are hungry; I've seen that over the last few days," he added. "I've sat in front of them and seen the sparkle in their eyes.

"I am learning every day and I don't think that ever stops. There is so much knowledge and rugby intelligence in our players.

"I need to tap into that too. To see the calibre of players we have available is really exciting."

Steve Borthwick has been appointed England's new head coach on a five-year contract.

The former Red Rose captain leaves Leicester Tigers to take over from Eddie Jones, who was sacked earlier this month.

Borthwick previously served as a forwards coach alongside Jones when England reached the 2019 World Cup final.

The new man at the helm also worked with Jones during the Australian's time in charge of Japan, and he vacates his Leicester role after winning the Premiership title last season.

The 43-year-old brings rugby league great Kevin Sinfield with him from the Tigers as defence coach.

Former lock Borthwick played 57 Tests for England and was part of the squad that reached the 2007 World Cup final.

The 43-year-old's first match in charge will be England's Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 4, with Argentina their first Rugby World Cup opponents in Marseille on September 9.

Confirmation came in a statement from England Rugby, which read: "Former England captain and forwards coach Steve Borthwick has been announced as England men's head coach from today.

"Kevin Sinfield has also been appointed to the position of England men's defence coach, taking on the role this week."

Borthwick said: "I'm deeply honoured to be appointed England head coach, and I am very excited by the challenge.

"The English game is full of talent and I want to build a winning team which makes the most of our huge potential and inspires young people to fall in love with rugby union the way I did. I want the whole country to be proud of us and to enjoy watching us play.

"The hard work starts now and planning for the Guinness Six Nations and Rugby World Cup begins today. I will give it everything.”

Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick says he would love to offer some clarity over his future amid reports he is in line to lead England.

The Rugby Football Union are attempting to secure the Premiership Rugby winner to succeed Eddie Jones following the Australian's dismissal earlier this month.

With less than a year until the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, the search for a new head coach appears to have centred itself upon Borthwick.

But speaking ahead of his side's European Rugby Champions Cup clash with Clermont this weekend, the 43-year-old acknowledged he was unable to offer any information over his future.

"I know I'm coaching here this weekend against Clermont on Saturday," he said.

"That's what I am working towards. I'd love to give you clarity [around] everything going forward [but] unfortunately, I can't.

"For me, all I do is try to concentrate on giving the best for this team and these players that I care for very deeply.

"I will try and coach them to the best level I possibly can."

Borthwick was assistant coach under Jones with Japan, before linking up with the Australian in the England camp in 2015, with the pair reaching the 2019 Rugby World Cup final together.

He stayed there until 2020, when he departed the national set-up to take charge at Welford Road, winning the top-flight title last season with the Tigers.

Any move to take Borthwick to England would leave Leicester potentially looking for two replacements, with defence coach Kevin Sinfield having been linked to follow him to Twickenham.

Eddie Jones leaves behind a legacy of "misguided rhetoric and unfulfilled promises" following his dismissal as England coach, says Clive Woodward.

The Australian was sacked nine months out from the Rugby World Cup after overseeing the nation's worst calendar-year record for over a decade, winning just five out of 12 Test matches.

With Jones having led England to the final of the last tournament in Japan in 2019, the Rugby Football Union's (RFU) decision represents a major gamble so close to next year's competition in France.

But Woodward, a frequent critic of Jones over a difficult year, feels he has paid the price for his distractions since defeat to South Africa in Yokohama. 

"He's a much better coach than he has shown over the past three years," he wrote in the Daily Mail. "He is a shadow of the Jones I competed with and whose first years with England were so successful and rightfully applauded.

"He became completely focused on the 2023 World Cup and that was a costly error. He lost focus of simply winning the next game and allowed himself to get distracted

"What will [his] legacy be? The semi-final victory over New Zealand was his best performance, but unfortunately, he will be remembered for the misguided rhetoric and unfulfilled promises.

"I don't think history will remember this period of English rugby too kindly."

Leicester coach Steve Borthwick, who steered his side to the Premiership Rugby title last term, has been tipped as a likely successor to Jones in charge of England.

But Woodward says that, if selected, the RFU must allow him to put his own stamp on the team, including bringing his Tigers assistant Kevin Sinfield, the former rugby league playmaker, into the fold.

"If it is Steve Borthwick who comes in, then we've all got to get behind him and I wish him all the best," he added. "He must be given the full support and resources to ensure there are no excuses.

"He must be allowed to bring in his own team, and if I was him, I would bring Kevin Sinfield over from Leicester. The players will have a second chance and there is enough talent out there to go and win next year’s World Cup."