Senior England players ‘fight to protect’ Steve Borthwick and deny rift

Team meet to discuss Times article on squad disharmony Jamie George says criticism will get best from England England’s senior players have circled the wagons around Steve Borthwick and denied he oversaw a toxic environment over the summer, insisting they will “fight to protect” the under-fire head coach in Sunday’s autumn opener against Australia. Jamie George, who captained the side for England’s three summer Tests, and the returning skipper, Maro Itoje, called a squad meeting on Friday morning to discuss an article in the Times that portrays a group of players fed up with Borthwick’s man management skills. The article said that Ellis Genge clashed with Borthwick, that senior players sought clear-the-air talks and wanted the Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney – who this week gave his unequivocal backing for the head coach to continue through to next year’s World Cup – present. Continue reading...