England's extraordinary 42-37 defeat by the Wallabies in November was said to have Borthwick's side "battling to keep fans onside", according to BBC Sport's rugby union correspondent Chris Jones at the time.

Van Poortvliet, who is among five Leicester players called up by Borthwick for the upcoming Six Nations, says the public perception of the team differs greatly from those within the set-up.

And with his previous experience playing under Borthwick, having been part of the Tigers side he revived as a Premiership force, the 23-year-old is adamant that success will eventually come.

"Obviously results haven't been what we wanted in the last year, but I think it is similar to when we were almost into our second year at Tigers," Van Poortvliet said.

"He has a lot more time with us, so you get the changes quicker, but when we finished sixth in the table [in Borthwick's first full season] for half that year we were on the wrong ends of results and then by the end of the year we got more of a run together.

"It was close, the performances were there and we were just off it. And that's how I see it with England - we are so close.

"It can seem to the media or be seen by fans that you are miles off it, but it is really close and I'm sure this Six Nations we will work even harder and Steve will push us hard and keep us working on what we need to improve on.

"I have full faith that we will be able to turn those results around and be able to push forward to have a more successful campaign."