Te’o, Vunipola in hot water for late night out
hemisphere swagmen.
It’s no surprise that the New Zealand and Australian unions went to bat for the Sunwolves – the Japanese franchise provides a pathway for another tier of players from the Anzac nations.
The Sunwolves have been sacrificed on the altar of expediency.
The South African franchises have been squealing about the extra travel demands incurred through having an Asian team in Super Rugby – particularly one which doesn’t draw an audience in the republic.
Sanzaar has been under pressure to raise the quality of a competition which has been struggling under the strain of the rugby diaspora to Europe.
Just two years ago, there were 18 teams in Super Rugby before the competition was cut to 15 when the Western Force and two South African clubs (the The England rugby team’s problems appear to have gone from bad to worse with Ben Te’o and Billy Vunipola reportedly in trouble for breaking protocols just hours after the Six Nations meltdown against Scotland.
England blew a 31-0 lead and needed a late try to rebound for a 38-38 draw with the Scots in a Twickenham performance that has left coach Eddie Jones questioning his side’s mental ability to handle pressure.
Disciplinarian Jones will have been furious to see New Zealand-born Te’o and Vunipola step out of line immediately after the sloppy England effort that drew plenty of criticism.
The Guardian reports the pair ‘‘found themselves in hot water after arriving late back at the England team hotel following an alcohol-fuelled night out, hours after their side’s second-half capitulation to Scotland’’.
‘‘Te’o and Vunipola were out until the early hours of Sunday Southern Kings and Cheetahs) were dumped and defected to Europe’s Pro14 league. Fourteen teams is a better fit. Politically, it’s easier for Sanzaar to give the Sunwolves the bullet than suggest cutting another Australian or South African team, who are, at least, replete with homegrown players.
Sanzaar has offered the olive branch of a second division, linked to Western Australian tycoon Twiggy Forrest’s Global Rapid Rugby league.
The Sunwolves could join Perth’s Western Force and teams from Fiji, Samoa, Hong Kong and Singapore in the second tier. There is also talk of a second Australian team and a side from Malaysia.
A second tier could, ultimately, lead to a promotionrelegation series, giving the likes of the Sunwolves and the Force a shot at the big-time again. morning without the rest of the squad,’’ the Guardian said. Rugbypass.com also reported the story and alleged the pair’s behaviour on return upset other hotel patrons, though this has been denied by England rugby bosses.
They said the matter had been handled internally and it is understood Te’o and Vunipola apologised to their team-mates. England do not operate curfews but insist on sensible decisions and Jones has come down hard on players who have transgressed. England finished second in the Six Nations behind Wales who completed a grand slam by beating defending champions Ireland. Big loose forward Vunipola, on the comeback trail from a horror run of injuries, started all five of England’s Six Nations matches this year, while midfield back Te’o started just once, against Italy, and came off the bench against Scotland.