mens
nations-championship
England’s senior players have rallied around Steve Borthwick in response to claims his team sought clean talks over the summer in protest at a toxic environment.
Borthwick, England’s head coach for the past four years, rejects the allegations made in a newspaper article which highlighted the turmoil in his management style which came to a head during the build-up to the final match of the July tour against Argentina.
The players reportedly objected to his treatment of them, that he was involved in a training ground assault with prop Ellis Genge and wanted Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney to hear their grievances.
The meeting was held, but it was held practically after the tour.
Borthwick said: “I don’t recognize it as an accurate reflection of the environment.
“I don’t recognize it as an accurate reflection of the relationship between me and the players, between the coach and the players.”
England open the second stage Nations Championship when Australia visit the Allianz Stadium on Sunday and Jamie George insists his team-mates are ready to prove they are fully behind their head coach.
George, who captained the July tour, said: “This is exciting, 100 per cent.
“We’re incredibly tight and when someone comes at one of our guys, we’re going to fight to protect them.
“Heading into the weekend, we can’t wait to represent Steve in the most positive way possible as we show how much we care about him.
“He’s one of our own. He’s someone we have the utmost respect for. He’s someone who, as I said, has our wholehearted support.”
“I’m incredibly disappointed by this. There’s a lot that is untrue. It’s clearly trying to create division within the group. Unfortunate.”
“The mood in the camp in July was generally good. There will always be disagreements – in life, in rugby, in professional sport. There will always be heated moments.
“But at the end of the day we all knew everyone had the team’s best interest at heart. It wasn’t an easy journey for us over the summer, that’s for sure.
“But you could equally say it was a toxic environment and a negative environment – that’s just not true, hands down.”
Maro Itoje has been rested for the summer tour but will lead England into Sunday’s clash after being restored to the second row.
Itoje and his lieutenants George, Genge and George Ford called a team meeting at the team’s Surrey training base on Thursday to discuss the allegations that have been made.
He said: “I’m a bit shocked because it’s not what I recognise. I think the framing is wrong and I don’t think it’s right.”
“I can say with all my heart that Steve has not lost faith in us players. We support him 100 percent along with all the other coaches.”
Ollie Chessum, tipped to be a future England captain, joined George and Itoje in backing Borthwick.
Chessum said: “There is a real intention to split the team here, but I will tell you now that it will have detrimental effects on Sunday afternoon.
“The relationship between the playing squad as a whole and the management is excellent. It’s a happy camp.”
Fullback George Furbank, prop Fin Smith, Itoje and openside Ben Curry are new faces in England’s starting XV, while Borthwick made four changes against Australia.