The England hooker Jamie George has hit back at claims of a divided dressing room and toxic camp in a staunch defence of Steve Borthwick ’s management ahead of their clash against Australia.

A report in The Times on Friday claimed that members of the England squad had lost faith in Borthwick during the first phase of the Nations Championship in July, and disagreed with the direction set by the head coach.

That followed the side’s worst-ever Six Nations campaign and first defeat to Italy earlier in the year, though George – who captained in the stead of the rested Maro Itoje in the summer – insisted that much of the reporting was wide of the mark.

“I don't relate to that in any way, shape, or form,” George said. “I'm incredibly disappointed by the article. I'm incredibly disappointed with the contents of it. I think there's a lot of it that's untrue. I'm incredibly disappointed with the timing.…