So, what happened in training to spark the O’Brien storm?

JONATHAN Joseph is among four British and Irish Lions omitted from England’s squad for their three-day training camp in Oxford.

George Kruis, Kyle Sinckler and James Haskell have also been left out of the 33-man group that will gather on Sunday despite touring New Zealand with Warren Gatland during the summer.

Denny Solomona is absent after being reprimanded for a late night drinking session during the last England camp and there is still no place for in-form Bath wing Semesa Rokoduguni.

Harlequins’ rising star Marcus Smith, 18, is the headline inclusion in the squad for the final get together before autumn series against Argentina, Samoa and Australia.

“This camp in Oxford is a really positive opportunity for the group to come back together and sharpen our focus and preparation ahead of our first match against Argentina,” head coach Eddie Jones said.

Joseph has been a mainstay in England’s midfield since establishing himself in the team in 2015 and has only missed one of Jones’ 20 matches in charge, against Italy in this year’s RBS 6 Nations.

He scored a hat-trick against Scotland at Twickenham in the same competition but having been unable to force his way into the Lions’ Test team, he has now been overlooked by England.

Kruis has endured an injury-hit start to the season after being struck by an ankle problem and Haskell has only just returned from hand surgery, but Sinckler has been playing for Harlequins and his omission is unexpected.

It is the second appearance in an England squad for Smith, who served notice of his rich potential by guiding Harlequins to victory over Wasps on Sunday. BRITISH and Irish Lions flanker Sean O’Brien dominated the news agenda this week when he publicly criticised head coach Warren Gatland and attack coach Rob Howley.

The Wales boss received criticism for alleged over-training, with the Irishman saying that players felt heavy in the build up to the first Test against the All Blacks, a game the Lions lost 30-15.

He also claimed Howley struggled to get his ideas across, with players subsequently driving the gameplan, and said the Lions should have won the series comfortably.

O’Brien’s words sent shockwaves through the rugby world as such public outings of a coach are rare – though some might say commendable – in modern sport.

They will have stung the two Wales coaches and it has emerged that Gatland is after a meeting with the flanker to discuss the comments.

So, what actually happened in the training sessions, and is O’Brien right? Here, we look at the breakdown of the schedule ahead of the first and final Tests.