“Joe El-Abd Promises Evolution in England’s Defence Strategy, Moving Away from ‘Blitz’ Terminology”

Joe El-Abd has taken the reins as England's new defence coach, succeeding Felix Jones, and he has made it clear that his approach will focus on evolution rather than a complete overhaul. El-Abd, who has a long-standing relationship with head coach Steve Borthwick, emphasized that while he respects the existing strategies, he will be moving away from the "B-word" terminology that has been used in the camp. Following a tumultuous summer for the England team, which saw the departures of Jones, Aled Walters, and Tom Tombleson from the coaching staff, Borthwick turned to El-Abd, a trusted colleague of 26 years. In his initial training camp, El-Abd highlighted the values of loyalty and commitment, indicating that he intends to build on the promising aspects of Jones's blitz defence strategy rather than discard it entirely. El-Abd's focus will be on refining and enhancing the existing framework, ensuring that the team continues to progress while maintaining the core principles that have shown success in recent matches.