Wynne Gray: The money's easy, but oh, the shame

COMMENT

The 16th-man fine will not hurt England financially.

After all, this is the mob who considered shelling out about $40,000 to move reporters out of the hotel they are sharing this week on the resort golf course at Palm Meadows on the Gold Coast.

Naturally, the journalists gave the idea the same sort of single-digit retort which England gave to instructions from the match official controlling their substitutions in the test with Samoa.

But the $28,000 fine and two-match ban for fitness adviser Dave Reddin will cut England deeply.

It hurts their pride and adds to their reputation as the most reviled side at this tournament. Much of that status is unwarranted, but England seem to travel everywhere with that sort of stigma.

Attempts to explain the antipathy have canvassed the colonial cringe theory, overbearing public school pomposity, jealousy about the tremendous resources England tip into their game, and the style of their rugby.

But coach Clive Woodward's imperious attitude in telling Reddin to ignore the official and send Dan Luger illegally into combat reinforced the view about England's arrogance.

Much has been made of the perception that they break the rules more than others.

But until South African referee Jonathan Kaplan pinged them repeatedly against Samoa, England had avoided any great disasters with their ploys.

That they did not get a card against the Springboks for some of their persistent infringements said more about lack of nerve from referee Peter Marshall and his touch judges than their borderline skill.

There was a blatant obstruction on Jorrie Muller as he attacked in England's 22, and the punch from Lawrence Dallaglio and its effects were quite visible.

There was no case to answer even later from the citing commissioner, in contrast to the suspension given Martin Leslie for what looked to be a minor indiscretion.

But the guilty verdict and fine at the inquiry into the 16th-man chaos showed they had been in contempt of the system.

Referees, touch judges and match officials need to be protected. They need to be able to work in their difficult arena without threat or impediment to their responsibilities.

England showed no respect for the authority and conventions of the current game.

In 1998, Woodward tried to engage referee Wayne Erickson in a halftime debate at Carisbrook before being made aware of the error of his ways.

In Melbourne last Sunday, he tried a similar roughshod routine and paid the penalty.

Intriguingly, when Woodward and four others were called away to Thursday's hearing in Sydney, most of the England squad played golf with those in the England media who dabble in the game.

Later that night they barbecued and drank together.

While Clive's away, the boys will play.

Full World Cup coverage