THE ADMISSION THAT Danny Cipriani and coach Mike Catt had a blazing row is mere fuel to the fire that is England’s immobilised Rugby World Cup chariot.
Divisions in the camp were firmly denied by the RFU, but they accept that the Sale Sharks number 10 and Catt engaged in a training ground row.
England say the row took place over an instruction at a training drill the day before the finalised World Cup squad was publicly unveiled (after Cipriani had been told be would not be part of the 31) and was resolved quickly.
One report had suggested the fracas had all but sparked a mutiny with senior players standing up for Cipriani after the attack coach twice fumed: ‘I will end your England career’. Lancaster, the Daily Mail continue, had ordered the players not to speak about it publicly.
Despite all this, the need for a lengthy raking over the carcass of England’s desperate World Cup campaign which saw them lose to Wales and Australia on their home ground Twickenham has been dismissed by both former assistant coach Mike Ford and former centre Mike Tindall.
Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and whose own future is at risk given his decision last October to offer coach Stuart Lancaster a contract till 2020, has said there will be no immediate consequences until a detailed analysis has been done on how England became the first World Cup hosts to fail to reach the knockout stages.
The trouble is, according to the Daily Telegraph, the players are reluctant to make their opinions known. A similar exercise following the 2011 World Cup, which was a disaster on and off the pitch and cost Martin Johnson his job as coach, saw several of their statements made public when they had been promised they would be confidential.
“There is likely to be some critical feedback but I am not sure many of them will trust that it will be an anonymous survey,” a source close to the squad told the Telegraph.
“So I think they will be guarded in what they say or just not take part.”
Some like veteran back row forward James Haskell have said they will contribute but the 30-year-old has a lot less to lose than the younger members of the squad as his Test career is drawing to a close.
Ford, who is head coach of Bath and has said he does not wish to be considered for the England coaching role if it becomes vacant, was unequivocal when asked did he think there should be a lengthy inquest.
Among the many things likely to be up for discussion will be the controversial selection of rugby league convert Sam Burgess.
He plays for Ford at Bath but in the back row and not at centre where Lancaster put him at the expense of Luther Burrell, whose omission from the squad sowed seeds of discontent according to reports.
“I hope it doesn’t take a long time. The review should not last three months,” Ford told BBC Radio.
“You don’t need any player feedback, because hopefully Stuart has been speaking to his captain and his leaders every day.
“So don’t let the people involved go through that with their families, and have that kind of experience,” added Ford, whose fly-half son George was controversially dropped for the game with Wales and assistant coach Andy Farrell’s son Owen replaced him.
Ford, who was England defence coach from 2006 to 2011, wondered what exactly the post mortem would drag up.
“The facilities weren’t good enough? The Denver trip wasn’t good enough?” said the 49-year-old.
They didn’t have enough coaches, or strength and conditioning? The food wasn’t right at Pennyhill? All those things would have been meticulously planned anyway. So they know now.”
Tindall, who was the captain of the 2011 team, for his part said he hoped there wouldn’t be too much blood spilt in terms of recriminations.
“I hate the fact there is always a witch-hunt after,” he told BBC radio.
“They have gone out, and have the tag of having the worst result England have ever had in a World Cup. That is going to burn any of those players.
“Fans say there are hurting from it – I guarantee players are hurting a hundred times over.”
