Wilson ‘elbowed’ Farrell and then it all kicked off
Six Nations chiefs launch probe
ENGLAND have been ordered to explain themselves after Owen Farrell was involved in a tunnel bust-up before Saturday’s Calcutta Cup defeat.
Television footage showed the England star had to be pulled away from Scotland players by his team-mates shortly before kick-off.
Sportsmail understands the altercation was triggered by Scotland No 8 Ryan Wilson, who is alleged to have elbowed Farrell as the players returned to the changing rooms at the same time after warming up at Murrayfield. ‘ It was heated, with Farrell clearly agitated and being held back by his team-mates,’ a source told Sportsmail. ‘It wasn’t your average handbags — it was a proper scuffle.’ Six Nations disciplinary officials wrote to England and Scotland ye yesterday to demand their fulF full version of events. Farrell was gagged from ta talking to the media after th the 25- 13 defeat which en ended England’s Grand Sl Slam dream. F Finn Russell, Scotland’s fly fly-half, said: ‘I’m not sure what happened — I leave it t to the big guys!’ During the game, Wilson was involved in another altercation with his opposite number, Nathan Hughes, and the RFU’s lawyers are understood to be examining footage ahead of a possible citing of the England No 8.
The matchday citing officer has 48 hours to decide whether to order an official enquiry into players’ conduct — with a decision due by tonight.
As one of the most competitive characters in the England squad, Farrell does not shy away from confrontation. The 26-year-old plays on the edge with a naturally aggressive style, but has lately managed to contain his petulant streak to become one of the best players in the world.
Wilson (right, with the Calcutta Cup) was banned for three months in 2015 for assaulting a rival player in a kebab shop. On that occasion, the victim, who was dressed as Tweedledee for a fancy dress party, was left with a fractured eye socket and pressed charges against Wilson, who was dressed in a Batman costume. England also face an anxious wait to hear if Sam Underhill will be banned for a no-arms tackle on Scotland prop Jamie Bhatti. The flanker was shown a yellow card by Nigel Owens, but could face additional disciplinary action ahead of the trip to France for their match in Paris a week on Saturday. Eddie Jones’s England squad will reconvene in Oxford tomorrow, but the forecast poor weather — a cold front coming in from the east — has forced the camp to be cut short, with eight fringe players taking part in ‘ mini- satellite camps’ around the country. ‘We have a massive two weeks leading up to the game in France and we need to get that preparation right,’ said Jones, who claimed he was not aware of the tunnel fracas. ‘When we lose we learn from it and we will just keep learning from it. It is not the end of the world — the end of the world might come when the Beast From the East comes.’ As revealed by Sportsmail, Jones could turn to Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi, who scored a try yesterday in his team’s 28-20 away win over Saracens, to boost his squad after Saturday’s defeat. ‘If he can get a couple of extra cylinders in his engine then yes, of course we will,’ said Jones. ‘ But he’s got to find a couple of extra cylinders.’