WHEN DETAILS OF the RFU’s confidential inquiry into the failure of England’s World Cup campaign were leaked to the press a fortnight ago, one of the most striking anecdotes concerned an unnamed player who was reported to have voiced his frustration at England’s quarter-final defeat to France by saying:
“There’s £35,000 down the toilet.”
It turns out that the player in question, whose attitude has since become emblematic of England’s institutional malaise, may have been Nick Easter.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, the Harlequins veteran claimed that he didn’t remember making the remark, but if he did, it was almost certainly intended as an ironic reflection on the solemnity of the occasion.
“I don’t specifically remember saying it but it’s possible I did – especially if a number of players have said so. It is the kind of facetious thing I say and people who know me know this.”
In addition to providing a plausible context in which the comment could have been made, Easter expressed his frustration with both the players responsible for erroneously reporting the incident as an example of squad misbehaviour and the subsequent leak that brought it to public attention.
“I find it very disappointing that a player should make a point of bringing this up in the review, and equally disappointing that it was leaked. I can’t understand whoever reported this would believe this was part of my motivation.”
Easter has been a mainstay of the English international squad since his Test debut in the 2007 Six Nations.
Congratulations to Kerry….If only Fungie was around to see it…
Congratulations from a Dub. Can’t wait to see Dublin and Kerry go at it again in the Champo. Hopefully it happens and happens in the final.
@Thomas Quinn: agreed. Always happy to see Kerry won silverware so long as it’s not at Dublin’s expense
@my name: how is Kerry winning the league not at Dublin’s (and every other team in the divisions) expense. Did Dublin win the league too? Congrats :-D
@Thomas Quinn: Competition is a joke. Meaningless.
Well 2020 is even stranger now wicklow promoted to div 3
Mup wickla
@Alan Carthy: Some going by Limerick to win the division with a zero score difference
@G: and wicklow +39 lol
Bit of a damp squib with Donegal leaving their key players at home ahead of next weeks championship outing against Tyrone.
@Justin Gillespie: well that it may have been but the correct decision obviously with the big game next weekend & safe from relegation. Imagine fielding a strong team & lad’s getting injured for nothing really, the manager would have finger’s pointed for sure so sound decision
@Noel Doherty: do people not want to win the league? Why bother play it so and just set a longer period for club players
@Justin Gillespie: Joke to be fair
Ref was a disgrace. Both those goals started in an offside position. Were is var when u need it.
@john s: offside position
What the f eck are you on about you flute
@john s: Loads of knock ons and forward passes not picked up by the TMO. Shocking stuff.
@Cian Nolan: Serious amount of handball too. Can’t understand how both sides got away with it?
@Gerard Martin: up th4 kingdom
@Ger Lyons: every time
@Cian Nolan: Numerous hand ball incidents not picked up..
Big win, heavy defeat.
Could this be fungi who was washed up in Donegal this morning ?
Sadness as dolphin washed up on West Donegal beach
written by Staff Writer
https://www.donegaldaily.com/