Brendan Venter is backing Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard to help Eddie Jones erase the memory of England’s disastrous World Cup campaign when they join his new coaching team.

Saracens technical director Venter today also called on Jones to hand the No10 jersey to Owen Farrell, who he believes can become the “best fly-half in the world” if England stop “dabbling” with Bath’s George Ford.

Venter has worked closely with both Gustard and Borthwick and is convinced that Jones, the man he replaced as Sarries’ director of rugby in 2009, has made the right choices as he builds a new England coaching team based on men heavily involved with the reigning Aviva Premiership champions.

Jones appointed Gustard as the Sarries defence coach, while Borthwick was the team captain, and having opted to axe Stuart Lancaster’s assistant coaches Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt, the new head coach has chosen men he knows well.

His relationship with Borthwick is even stronger as the former England captain was Japan’s forwards coach at the World Cup under Jones before he linked up with Bristol in the Championship. Bristol are understood to want Borthwick to remain with them until the summer when he would then be free to take up a full-time England role, starting with June’s three-Test tour to Australia. However, he could be released for the Six Nations, working with Gustard, whose elevation to the national coaching set-up will be confirmed in the next 24 hours.

Venter, speaking from his home in South Africa, told Standard Sport: “England have a very strong team and the introduction of Steve and Paul to the set-up will make it even stronger. Steve worked with Eddie in Japan and knows what he brings to the party and so there is no risk. Eddie doesn’t have to build relationships with these two guys and it is a very wise move.”

On the issue of Farrell, Venter said: “If you look at the way Owen Farrell is developing, you potentially have somebody who can become the best fly-half in the world. I just hope that England, sooner rather than later, make the decision to stick with Owen and stop dabbling with George Ford. George is a good footballer but they are not going to win things longer term with him, they will with Owen.”