Accusations have been leveled against England manager Martin Johnson, suggesting he lacks the “bollocks” necessary to address the repercussions of Mike Tindall’s notorious night out in Queenstown during the Rugby World Cup.
The revelations of deep divisions within the England camp came to light following the leak of three confidential reports to the English media, which included claims that certain players prioritized financial gain over rugby itself.
In a report from the players union, with sources remaining anonymous, criticism was directed at Johnson, who led England to its only World Cup victory in 2003.
“All we wanted was for Johno to have the guts to take decisive action, particularly after the Tindall incident,” one player stated.
“His loyalty was his undoing.”
Tindall, married to Zara Phillips, the granddaughter of the Queen, faced a $40,000 fine and effectively saw his international career come to an end due to his wild night out.
He was caught on camera intoxicated with a former girlfriend and was dishonest with management about his whereabouts.
Following the scandals and the team’s exit in the quarter-finals, Johnson stepped down as England manager last week, prompting rugby authorities in England to begin their search for a successor.
Another player from England expressed disappointment over teammates prioritizing money instead of the honor of representing their country at such a significant event in the sport.
After their defeat to France in the quarter-finals, one player recounted hearing another say: “There’s 35,000 … down the toilet.”
The player remarked, “That made me sick. Money shouldn’t even register in a player’s mind.”
“It is quite disheartening that a senior group, captained by Lewis Moody, contested the World Cup squad’s payment levels, leading to meetings with RFU (Rugby Football Union) executives,” stated Rob Andrew, the RFU’s director of elite rugby.
“It indicated that certain senior players seemed more concerned with financial matters than ensuring proper performance on the field.”
by Buford Balony
