England players rally behind Borthwick after toxic culture claims
NEWS: England’s senior players have rallied around Steve Borthwick after claims that his squad sought clear-the-air talks over the summer to protest a toxic environment.
Borthwick, England’s head coach for the past four years, rejects the accusations made in a newspaper article highlighting unrest over his management style that came to a head during the build-up to the final match of the July tour against Argentina.
Players allegedly objected to his treatment of them, said he was involved in a training-ground bust-up with prop Ellis Genge, and wanted Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney to hear their grievances.
A meeting did take place, but it was held virtually after the tour.
Borthwick said: “I don’t recognise it as being an accurate reflection of the environment.
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“I don’t recognise it as being an accurate reflection of relationships between me and the players, between the coaches and players.”
England open the second phase of the Nations Championship when Australia visit Allianz Stadium on Sunday and Jamie George insists his teammates are ready to prove they are fully behind their head coach.
George, who was captain for the July tour, said: “This is galvanising, 100 per cent.
“We are incredibly tight and when someone comes at one of our own, we are going to fight to protect them.
“Leading into the weekend, we cannot wait to represent Steve most positively because we’re going to show how much we care about him.
“He’s one of our own. He’s someone we respect massively. He’s someone that, as I said, has our backing wholeheartedly.
“I’m incredibly disappointed by this. There’s a lot of it that’s untrue. It’s clearly trying to create a divide within the group. Unlucky.
“The mood in camp in July was good on the whole. There are always going to be disagreements – in life, in rugby, in professional sport. There are always going to be heated moments.
“But ultimately we all knew that everyone has the best interests of the team at heart. It wasn’t a straightforward journey for us in the summer, that’s for sure.
“But equally, for it to be said that there was a toxic environment and a negative environment – that’s just not true, hand on heart.”
Maro Itoje was rested for the summer tour but will lead England into Sunday’s showdown having been restored to the second row.
Itoje and his lieutenants George, Genge and George Ford called a team meeting at the squad’s Surrey training base on Thursday to discuss the claims that had been made.
He said: “I’m a little bit shocked because it’s not what I recognise. The framing of it I think, is wrong and I don’t think it is correct.
“I can wholeheartedly say Steve has not lost the faith of us players. We back him 100 per cent alongside all the other coaches.”
Ollie Chessum, who is regarded as a future England captain, joined George and Itoje in backing Borthwick.
Chessum said: “There is a real intention to divide a team here but I’ll tell you now it’s going to harm Sunday afternoon.
“The relationship between the playing squad as a whole and the management is great. It’s a happy camp.”
Fullback George Furbank, prop Fin Smith, Itoje and openside Ben Curry are the new faces in England’s starting XV as Borthwick made four changes against Australia.
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