Th'ump wrote:
Banana trying to play at having a pair.
Presumably his puritanical and ego-trip takes precedence over team bonding. Given the previous widely-reported issues about 'camps' within England squads, there were apparently 4 players from different clubs having a quick beer & getting along with each other.
Total over-reaction - but sadly predictable. Our sport is a sodding joke, with positions of power packed with self-important, pompous pillocks
I agree entirely. He is trying to assert control and authority through absolute jurisdiction rather than through being a leader, coach and mentor they look up to and respect.
I have no problems with him excluding Hock, he should never have been selected on form and previous anyway. But to rest Graham from the toughest match in the group and the one that winning could force Aus and NZ into a semi together is just silly.
If England rally and beat Australia he can claim vindication, but if we are trampled in the pack (Which looks very likely with Mossop starting prop and Farrell on the bench) he will lose any lingering bit of respect anyone had for him. Instead of that pair he could have had Graham and Crabtree. The mind boggles.
He shouldn't be in the job in the first place as he has no CV or capability to do it. This is just adding stupidity to the embarrassment as it's self inflicted.
