England prop Kyle Sinckler ensured the Wallabies’ off-field dramas weren’t forgotten during their 37-18 Test defeat at Twickenham.
“You’re all f…ing snitches anyway,” declared Sinckler as a scuffle broke out early in the second half.
It was an apparent reference to the Wallabies’ leadership group informing coach Michael Cheika that veterans Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper had breached team rules by having women in their hotel room after the Test loss to Wales.
While the guests were Ashley-Cooper’s sister-in-law and two friends and they reportedly left after having some food and drink, Cheika responded by dropping both players for the England game.
It didn’t help that the coach initially claimed the players were dropped for form and game plan reasons before the real story emerged.
Player of the match Sinckler was admonished after his sledge by referee Jaco Peyper who told him: “There are the laws of the game and the spirit.”
Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said he didn’t believe the off-field issue had affected the players during their loss to England and that he missed the Sinckler jibe.
“I didn’t hear that,” Hooper said.