How ‘incredible’ Pepper caught Borthwick’s eye after ‘bump in road’

Date: Saturday, November 1 Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Nine months before the World Cup, Steve Borthwick had a lengthy to-do list when he was appointed England’s head coach in December 2022.

It was also about having a look at a promising Newcastle flanker who had a World Cup-winning former teammate recommended to him.

Borthwick told BBC Sport, “Richard Hill spoke to me about Guy Pepper right away after I started this job.”

In 2023, I met him in Newcastle and watched him play. Even though he only played 30 minutes, he was truly amazing.

In the 2023-24 season, Pepper made his debut as a 19-year-old in the previous campaign, making his debut as a rookie in the same role.

In the semi-final and final, he moved to Bath in the summer of 2024, helping them to become league champions against fierce opposition in the back row, winning player of the match once more and again in the final.

Johann van Graan, the head of rugby at Bath, compared him to Richie McCaw, the great New Zealand player, and he will start for England against Australia on Saturday.

His rise may seem linear, but there is a different truth to it.

Pepper, who was 14 years old when he was diagnosed with arthritis and was forced to stop playing for a year because of his arthritis, is still receiving treatment and receiving injections every two weeks after an injury to his right ankle.

His father Martin told BBC Sport, “It was a shock to everyone and a little bump in the road for him.”

He received some excellent, immediate assistance from doctors and nurses, particularly at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, despite the fact that we were unaware as a family what was happening.

He had a good life, and it has been a part of his since he was five or six.

He appreciates being able to play because he has experienced times when he hasn’t been able to do things, which is frustrating and confusing when you’re young.

Former students Rory and Tony Underwood, Tim Visser, Mathew Tait, Lee Dickson, and Martin Horton are among the former pupils at Barnard Castle School in County Durham, where he is the senior deputy head.

He assisted his son’s entry into Newcastle’s academy and led his son in his academic success.

Although Pepper was able to earn a degree in Durham University’s sport and exercise science, Covid’s injuries prevented him from becoming an age-group England representative.

Gary Graham, a former Scotland number eight, who was a staple in the Newcastle side when Pepper trained with the senior team, was keeping him on his radar.

We had heard about him but he had just recovered from a serious injury, Graham claimed to have seen the hype.

You could tell that he would be a special player. You could see what he was all about after he took his chance and played every game for the first team.

In a defeat by Saracens at the end of December 2023, Pepper made a Premiership record-equalling 34 tackles.

Newcastle had to play every game that year, but the 6’3″ youngster’s impact was felt.

“Guy stepped up into that leadership role after the 2022-23 season because not very many senior boys left,” Graham said.

He ranked among the league’s top back rowers in his final year at Newcastle, according to the report. Going to Bath did not seem like a bad thing because he performed better than the Bath back rowers who were present.

Pepper developed his all-around skills under former Bath coach Lee Blackett, who is now England’s attacking coach.

Jack van Poortvliet scored England’s series-winning try against Argentina in July with a powerful carry and offload.

Tom Curry and Henry Pollock, the British and Irish Lions’ starting back-row pairing, will be playing on Saturday’s England debut, highlighting Borthwick’s depth.

Pepper, who started England’s most recent Test against the United States in the summer, occupies his place.

His father has a flight booked for Friday so he can travel to Saturday’s game but hasn’t been to Ibiza during the half-term break from school.

At Allianz Stadium will be the entire Pepper clan, including Guy’s brother Max, who plays for the Bristol Bears.

We are so happy for him, Martin said, despite the fact that it has been a busy six months. I hope he simply enjoys it and leaves.