England striker Jamie George says he is “really upset” by a newspaper article which claims the end of the team’s summer tour was marked by player unrest over the management of manager Steve Borthwick.
A report in the Times, external said the disgruntled players wanted summit talks with Borthwick and Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney in Argentina in July.
It is claimed that there are differences of opinion among the wider coaching staff, which has undergone frequent changes during four years under Borthwick, and concerns about the head coach’s management skills.
With England facing Australia in the Nations Championship at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on Sunday, George questions the timing and content of the article.
The Saracens whore, who was made England captain by Borthwick in 2024 before the role went to Maro Itoje 12 months later, said he did not recognize the situation described in the article.
“I can tell you most of it is lies,” George told Rugby Union Weekly.
“As a team, we’re incredibly disappointed.
“You only have to look at the timing of the article – two days after our first Test match. I think it’s clear to try to be divisive.
“England is the first time in my career that I think we should have applied for a paper written as a group, but we spoke brilliantly about it.
“Maro called a meeting of leaders and thought this was the best way for us.
“Whoever wrote this article clearly intended to be divisive. Unfortunately, things will go the other way for them.
“It’s going to make us stronger, it’s going to make us tighter. We talk a lot about standing up for people, we talk a lot about helping each other, and we have to make sure we do that for Steve.
“He’s taken a bit of a personal attack here and it’s unwarranted.”