LONDON - The first-half substitution of former Kiwis international Henry Paul has sparked anger and questions over whether he will play rugby for England again.
An uninjured Paul was withdrawn by coach Andy Robinson after just 24 minutes and replaced by veteran Will Greenwood during the test loss to Australiaat Twickenham on Sunday.
Nigel Melville, director of rugby at Paul's Gloucester club, described Robinson's action as "pathetic".
"I can't remember any player being taken off after 20 minutes. It's embarrassing for a professional sportsman.
"If you don't want him in the team then don't pick him. The message is clearly that he's not going to play again," Melville told the Guardian newspaper.
"He's fed up, nobody spoke to him.
"They've been talking him up, they selected him, so after 20 minutes were they admitting they got it wrong?
"The whole thing looks like a flawed selection. If you are making judgments on Henry Paul, you don't take him off after 20 minutes."
Paul, who recently extended his Gloucester club contract, made his England rugby debut in the Six Nations two years ago, but was rarely in favour under the long reign of previous coach Sir Clive Woodward.
However, his bright, attacking style appeared to be in favour with Robinson since he took the reins ahead of last month's internationals.
The Independent said "the poor bloke was on the brink of tears" after the match at the realisation of what it might mean for his career.
"I was a bit surprised," was Paul's only response to the issue immediately after the match.
